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The Good Neighbor
When small lies have big consequences…
Things are a little rough for Izzy Lane. Still reeling from the break-up of her marriage, the newly single mom moves back to the Philadelphia home she grew up in, five-year-old Noah in tow. The transition is difficult, but with the help of her best friends—and her elderly neighbor, Mrs. Feldman—Izzy feels like she’s stepping closer to her new normal. Until her ex-husband shows up with his girlfriend. That’s when Izzy invents a boyfriend of her own. And that’s when life gets complicated.
Blogging about her “new guy” provides Izzy with something to do when Noah’s asleep. What’s the harm in a few made-up stories? Then, her blog soars in popularity and she’s given the opportunity to moonlight as an online dating expert. How can she turn it down? But when her friends want to meet the mysterious “Mac,” someone online suspects Izzy’s a fraud, and a guy in-real-life catches her eye, Izzy realizes just how high the stakes are. That’s when Mrs. Feldman steps in, determined to show her neighbor the havoc that lies can wreak. If Izzy’s honest, she could lose everything, and everyone. Is the truth worth any cost?
Things are a little rough for Izzy Lane. Still reeling from the break-up of her marriage, the newly single mom moves back to the Philadelphia home she grew up in, five-year-old Noah in tow. The transition is difficult, but with the help of her best friends—and her elderly neighbor, Mrs. Feldman—Izzy feels like she’s stepping closer to her new normal. Until her ex-husband shows up with his girlfriend. That’s when Izzy invents a boyfriend of her own. And that’s when life gets complicated.
Blogging about her “new guy” provides Izzy with something to do when Noah’s asleep. What’s the harm in a few made-up stories? Then, her blog soars in popularity and she’s given the opportunity to moonlight as an online dating expert. How can she turn it down? But when her friends want to meet the mysterious “Mac,” someone online suspects Izzy’s a fraud, and a guy in-real-life catches her eye, Izzy realizes just how high the stakes are. That’s when Mrs. Feldman steps in, determined to show her neighbor the havoc that lies can wreak. If Izzy’s honest, she could lose everything, and everyone. Is the truth worth any cost?
272 pages, Paperback
First published October 13, 2015
About the author
Amy Sue Nathan
6 books541 followersWriter of novels, lover of cats, morning coffee, dark chocolate, and bold lipstick. Former vegetarian, occasional crafter, adequate cook, loyal friend, proud mom to two awesome adults.
Website: AmySueNathan.com
Twitter: @AmySueNathan
Facebook: Amy Sue Nathan
Instagram: @AmySueNathan
(Are you sensing a theme, here?)
Website: AmySueNathan.com
Twitter: @AmySueNathan
Facebook: Amy Sue Nathan
Instagram: @AmySueNathan
(Are you sensing a theme, here?)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 219 reviews
September 6, 2015
"The Good neighbor", by Amy Sue Nathan, reads quickly. I was glad.
I was neutral to this novel.
I'm 63 years old. I've never been divorced - never been a single mother - never had the 'type'
of girlfriends the main character had in this story. Nothing broke my heart or inspired it.
I found myself reading this story the same way I might read a magazine article while waiting for a dentist appointment. The story kept me company -- wasn't horrible---but nothing broke my heart, but nothing inspired it either. It was like an average breakfast of plain oatmeal. Tastes fine...but not the highlight of my day.
Izzy has recently divorced from her husband Bruce. She has a five-year-old son named Noah.
Izzy and Noah move back home into the house in Philadelphia that she grew up in.
Bruce leaves - with his girlfriend to California - for an 'uncertain' amount of time (1, 2, 3 months?)... a real prize father!
Being lonely, a little jealous, Izzy creates an online blog about the new guy, Mac, in her life.
A real-life relationship didn't turn out too well, maybe her make-believe life
will give her the pleasure she is looking for. Then again, maybe not!
It doesn't take long until Izzy's blog becomes very popular. Her two best girlfriends are dying to know who the new guy is in her life, and of course they want to meet him.
On top of that, she gets a job to continue doing what she does best... 'Blogging about Mac,
and giving advice to women over forty, who are single moms. She gives advice on dating, and how to have a happy balance life. It doesn't really matter if she is dating herself, or knows the answers to the 'Dear Ms. Abby' type questions she receives, because is she is very talented with the lies she tells.
Her neighbor, Mrs Feldman, is in her 80's, a woman who had been like a 2nd mother to Izzy
since she was a child...knows that Mac is make-believe. They have a close/ special relationship, which is why maybe the name of the book is called "The Good Neighbor".
The person I was most interested in wasn't in the book very much. I wanted to know more
about Bruce ...and what he was doing in California. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't 'THAT'
interested even about him... but I thought his character - is absent character- was the most
interesting. As for the child, Noah. It's hard not to find all children adorable ...
But when his mother tells him his father will be home soon --and he asks his 'mommy'...
"What is soon"?, I felt nothing for the child. The question sounded like an 'adult' made up that
"Soon" word to use in the question. Plus, there is not enough of the Noah in the book to feel much of anything except the way I did the entire book: neutral.
Thank you to St. Martin's for allowing me to read this book - and the many wonderful books I've
been allowed to read. I always feel a little bad when I'm not crazy about a book.
Yet, I've often liked most I've requested.
Thank you to Netgalley for the ongoing gift that you provide
Thank you to the author: Amy Sue Nathan. ( we have one thing in common- we both have
Jewish blood . I had little smiles when reference came up in the story).
There is an audience for this book. Single mothers - women in their 30's and 40's..,,
maybe young divorced women in transition. Plus, there are already 10 other 5 star reviews -
so 'mostly' women ARE loving this book! GREAT! As I do care for authors success.
I was neutral to this novel.
I'm 63 years old. I've never been divorced - never been a single mother - never had the 'type'
of girlfriends the main character had in this story. Nothing broke my heart or inspired it.
I found myself reading this story the same way I might read a magazine article while waiting for a dentist appointment. The story kept me company -- wasn't horrible---but nothing broke my heart, but nothing inspired it either. It was like an average breakfast of plain oatmeal. Tastes fine...but not the highlight of my day.
Izzy has recently divorced from her husband Bruce. She has a five-year-old son named Noah.
Izzy and Noah move back home into the house in Philadelphia that she grew up in.
Bruce leaves - with his girlfriend to California - for an 'uncertain' amount of time (1, 2, 3 months?)... a real prize father!
Being lonely, a little jealous, Izzy creates an online blog about the new guy, Mac, in her life.
A real-life relationship didn't turn out too well, maybe her make-believe life
will give her the pleasure she is looking for. Then again, maybe not!
It doesn't take long until Izzy's blog becomes very popular. Her two best girlfriends are dying to know who the new guy is in her life, and of course they want to meet him.
On top of that, she gets a job to continue doing what she does best... 'Blogging about Mac,
and giving advice to women over forty, who are single moms. She gives advice on dating, and how to have a happy balance life. It doesn't really matter if she is dating herself, or knows the answers to the 'Dear Ms. Abby' type questions she receives, because is she is very talented with the lies she tells.
Her neighbor, Mrs Feldman, is in her 80's, a woman who had been like a 2nd mother to Izzy
since she was a child...knows that Mac is make-believe. They have a close/ special relationship, which is why maybe the name of the book is called "The Good Neighbor".
The person I was most interested in wasn't in the book very much. I wanted to know more
about Bruce ...and what he was doing in California. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't 'THAT'
interested even about him... but I thought his character - is absent character- was the most
interesting. As for the child, Noah. It's hard not to find all children adorable ...
But when his mother tells him his father will be home soon --and he asks his 'mommy'...
"What is soon"?, I felt nothing for the child. The question sounded like an 'adult' made up that
"Soon" word to use in the question. Plus, there is not enough of the Noah in the book to feel much of anything except the way I did the entire book: neutral.
Thank you to St. Martin's for allowing me to read this book - and the many wonderful books I've
been allowed to read. I always feel a little bad when I'm not crazy about a book.
Yet, I've often liked most I've requested.
Thank you to Netgalley for the ongoing gift that you provide
Thank you to the author: Amy Sue Nathan. ( we have one thing in common- we both have
Jewish blood . I had little smiles when reference came up in the story).
There is an audience for this book. Single mothers - women in their 30's and 40's..,,
maybe young divorced women in transition. Plus, there are already 10 other 5 star reviews -
so 'mostly' women ARE loving this book! GREAT! As I do care for authors success.
November 28, 2017
Talented Amy Sue Nathan returns after her winning debut, The Glass Wives , with her latest contemporary, THE GOOD NEIGHBOR --filled with humor, friendship, and life’s complications.
Izzy Lane is going through a rough patch. She has been dumped by Bruce, her husband, and as a single mom, she decides to move back to Philadelphia, to the home where she grew up after her parents have moved. Along with her five-year-old son, Noah-- she works as a high school counselor, where she is determined to live a normal life.
She has a few friends (Jade and Rachel), to help along the way and support her through her time of need, and the funny elderly neighbor, Mrs. Feldman. Then her ex-husband shows up with his girlfriend. Izzy comes up with a plan and decides to invent a boyfriend of her own. (all ex-wives do this). However, it gets quite complicated to keep up the charade and the lies.
Izzy comes up with this idea of blogging. Her new love interest, with her free nights when her son is asleep, she is in another world online. What she does not expect is how popular her blog will turn out to be. Soon she is the online dating expert. We have a Dear Abbey on our hands.
Of course, her friends want to meet the mysterious Mac, and some think she is a fake. She begins to worry what she has gotten herself into. Then her neighbor gets involved, and she is in a real pickle.
A witty heartwarming story, of secrets, lies, betrayal, friendship -- and the desperate attempts for second chances. As with her first book, Nathan tackles real issues in non-traditional families (been there, so can relate)….she uses contemporary topics and humor mixed in with lots of obstacles along the way, making her books relatable, by women in today’s world.
I liked the idea of the different age groups of women. As I get older, the 80 something crowd fascinates me. In my hi-rise, there are many older single women--they are always lots of fun with some great stories of the past! Mrs. Feldman was my favorite character with some stories of her own - a nice addition!
A special thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Love the Cover!
JDCMustReadBooks
Izzy Lane is going through a rough patch. She has been dumped by Bruce, her husband, and as a single mom, she decides to move back to Philadelphia, to the home where she grew up after her parents have moved. Along with her five-year-old son, Noah-- she works as a high school counselor, where she is determined to live a normal life.
She has a few friends (Jade and Rachel), to help along the way and support her through her time of need, and the funny elderly neighbor, Mrs. Feldman. Then her ex-husband shows up with his girlfriend. Izzy comes up with a plan and decides to invent a boyfriend of her own. (all ex-wives do this). However, it gets quite complicated to keep up the charade and the lies.
Izzy comes up with this idea of blogging. Her new love interest, with her free nights when her son is asleep, she is in another world online. What she does not expect is how popular her blog will turn out to be. Soon she is the online dating expert. We have a Dear Abbey on our hands.
Of course, her friends want to meet the mysterious Mac, and some think she is a fake. She begins to worry what she has gotten herself into. Then her neighbor gets involved, and she is in a real pickle.
A witty heartwarming story, of secrets, lies, betrayal, friendship -- and the desperate attempts for second chances. As with her first book, Nathan tackles real issues in non-traditional families (been there, so can relate)….she uses contemporary topics and humor mixed in with lots of obstacles along the way, making her books relatable, by women in today’s world.
I liked the idea of the different age groups of women. As I get older, the 80 something crowd fascinates me. In my hi-rise, there are many older single women--they are always lots of fun with some great stories of the past! Mrs. Feldman was my favorite character with some stories of her own - a nice addition!
A special thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Love the Cover!
JDCMustReadBooks
August 18, 2016
ARC requested through Netgalley, and kindly provided by St. Martin's Press in exchange for a honest review.
When I read the description for this book, I was expecting a lighthearted chic-lit story with accidental romance and misunderstandings. Instead I got a really emotionally satisfying read of one woman’s journey into finding herself again. Izzy Lane is a recently divorced mother who has just moved back into her childhood home. She’s going through many things all at once... mourning the loss of the life she thought she would have, trying to give her son a great life, despite his father’s absence and trying to keep a roof over her head.
I was completely sucked into Amy Sue Nathan’s narrative. Izzy isn’t your typical jilted wife, left scorned by her husband who has left her and then immediately finds a new girlfriend. In fact, I didn’t really get the impression she was all that heartbroken over losing her husband. She seemed more to be mourning the loss of the “perfect” life she had mapped out for herself and her husband was one piece of that vision.
Izzy’s lie did have me stressed out for the entire book. I kept wanting to give her a shake every time she didn’t come clean. It made for a great story. I was quite surprised when I hit the 75% mark and there was
I loved Mrs. Feldmen and the bond that she had with Izzy. It was my favourite part of the book.
Great read!
When I read the description for this book, I was expecting a lighthearted chic-lit story with accidental romance and misunderstandings. Instead I got a really emotionally satisfying read of one woman’s journey into finding herself again. Izzy Lane is a recently divorced mother who has just moved back into her childhood home. She’s going through many things all at once... mourning the loss of the life she thought she would have, trying to give her son a great life, despite his father’s absence and trying to keep a roof over her head.
I was completely sucked into Amy Sue Nathan’s narrative. Izzy isn’t your typical jilted wife, left scorned by her husband who has left her and then immediately finds a new girlfriend. In fact, I didn’t really get the impression she was all that heartbroken over losing her husband. She seemed more to be mourning the loss of the “perfect” life she had mapped out for herself and her husband was one piece of that vision.
Izzy’s lie did have me stressed out for the entire book. I kept wanting to give her a shake every time she didn’t come clean. It made for a great story. I was quite surprised when I hit the 75% mark and there was
I loved Mrs. Feldmen and the bond that she had with Izzy. It was my favourite part of the book.
Great read!
November 1, 2015
I have a few things in common with Izzy: we're Jewish, we're working mothers, we're turning 40 (or just did, in the case of this story), and we blog on a regular basis. While I couldn't relate to certain things she was going through, I could still understand why she made the choices she did. She was a sympathetic character and I wanted her to triumph by the end of the story.
Amy Sue Nathan provides an array of interesting characters, strong dialogue, vivid descriptions, and some interesting twists and surprises that keep readers on their toes. The story had the feel of a Jennifer Weiner novel with it being about a Jewish woman living in Philly and dealing with modern day issues. Adding in a Jewish grandmother figure added to this feel. The message that comes out of this story is important for all women (and even men) to consider.
What didn't work so well for me was the title not really fitting with the premise of the story. I get why it was used, but it represented a secondary story line. Also, the chapter titles didn't really fit with what was going on in each chapter. They were mostly named after games or songs from our childhood, but didn't make sense in the grand scheme of things. It didn't really add a feel of nostalgia in comparison to the reminders of what Izzy missed in her youth. Aside from that, the ending felt a bit rushed once we got to the climax. Everything seemed to get resolved in 20 pages.
However, I did like that the story wasn't just focused on Izzy and showed what her elderly neighbor and her best friend/cousin were going through in their lives and how Izzy tried to help them, as well.
Overall, it was an entertaining read that will make readers think about how they represent themselves and how they treat their closest relationships.
Amy Sue Nathan provides an array of interesting characters, strong dialogue, vivid descriptions, and some interesting twists and surprises that keep readers on their toes. The story had the feel of a Jennifer Weiner novel with it being about a Jewish woman living in Philly and dealing with modern day issues. Adding in a Jewish grandmother figure added to this feel. The message that comes out of this story is important for all women (and even men) to consider.
What didn't work so well for me was the title not really fitting with the premise of the story. I get why it was used, but it represented a secondary story line. Also, the chapter titles didn't really fit with what was going on in each chapter. They were mostly named after games or songs from our childhood, but didn't make sense in the grand scheme of things. It didn't really add a feel of nostalgia in comparison to the reminders of what Izzy missed in her youth. Aside from that, the ending felt a bit rushed once we got to the climax. Everything seemed to get resolved in 20 pages.
However, I did like that the story wasn't just focused on Izzy and showed what her elderly neighbor and her best friend/cousin were going through in their lives and how Izzy tried to help them, as well.
Overall, it was an entertaining read that will make readers think about how they represent themselves and how they treat their closest relationships.
September 16, 2015
I really wanted to like this book! Living in a small town with a minuscule Jewish population, I enjoy reading about the culture - my culture. Unfortunately, this was not the one for me. Maybe it's my morals but I really don't expect everything I read on the internet to be 100 % true so the drama presented, that the boyfriend she writes about is made-up, was much ado about nothing. Then, the presentation of the story was not enough for me to follow/enjoy/become immersed in the story. I would have liked to read about different details; I would have liked more of an introduction in each change in topic. Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.
October 10, 2015
This was a great little story about a recently divorced woman who ends up having to move back into the house she grew up in, next door to the woman who used to babysit her when she was a little girl. That's something that you rarely see these days. Most people have the big house for the kids and downsize when they become empty nesters.
Anyway, the story was very entertaining and dealt with a lot of single mom issues that most single moms have. There was one huge issue that happened, an innocent to begin with one, but totally got blown all out of proportion before it came to light.
This was definitely a light read, enjoyable, fun with a little surprise at the end. It held my interest and I liked the characters a lot. Well, except for the ex-husband, of course. Does that really have to be said though? HA!
Thanks St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for providing me with this free e-galley in exchange for an honest review.
Anyway, the story was very entertaining and dealt with a lot of single mom issues that most single moms have. There was one huge issue that happened, an innocent to begin with one, but totally got blown all out of proportion before it came to light.
This was definitely a light read, enjoyable, fun with a little surprise at the end. It held my interest and I liked the characters a lot. Well, except for the ex-husband, of course. Does that really have to be said though? HA!
Thanks St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for providing me with this free e-galley in exchange for an honest review.
June 29, 2016
I stayed up way too late last night because I couldn't wait to find out what happened to Izzy Lane! Amy Sue Nathan's writing is excellent in this wonderful story about friendships, honesty, and the lengths we will go to help and support those we love. It's full of surprising twists and interesting characters, and I'll be thinking about it for a long time. Highly recommended!
October 13, 2015
I loved The Good Neighbor. Izzy, the main character, is so easy to relate to. Divorced, single mother, life is falling apart, and she is working and trying...and then she makes up a man. An imaginary man. And she writes about him. And everything goes from there. It's hilarious, you cringe for her, you hope for her, you can tell exactly when she's making mistakes but you still root for her...it's a fast paced book. Totally recommend.
April 27, 2017
"Secrets and lies change lives. And rarely in a good way." So it goes for Izzy Lane, divorced mother of a little boy, who compensates for her feelings of inadequacy by making up a fake boyfriend in her blog. Hiding the truth from the people she is closest to not only makes her feel guilty, but keeps her from truly moving on in her life. The characters in this story spring to life on the pages of this book; relatable and flawed, but lovable just the same. The Good Neighbor is filled with heart, humor, and even some hand-wringing moments; a wonderful story with characters that fill us up with hope.
September 15, 2015
When her husband leaves their marriage Izzy heads for a safe place with her son – that place is the house she grew up in. Renting from her parents she continues with parenting Noah, her job as a guidance counsellor and spending time with her friends while she tries to accept that her dreams for the future won’t come true…at least not as she once expected them to. As the book blurb mentions…she creates a fictitious beau who is perfect and then blogs about him lying to her ex, her friends and the cyberworld. From there her life snowballs into a tangled web of secrets and lies in which she feels trapped. How will she - or will she not reveal the truth about Mac? Will she listen to wise advice or ignore it? Will her husband be a flake or man up eventually? Will she find a way to move forward or remain stuck in the comfort of what is familiar? There is resolution for her, of sorts, by the end of the book and in the telling of this portion of Izzy’s life we have glimpses of her childhood, family, friends, neighbors, marriage and also the possible future she may one day embrace.
Words I wrote down while reading: secrets, lies, truth, friends, family, neighbors, trust, pain, healing…
Quotations that grabbed me:
“Secrets and lies change lives. And rarely in a good way.”
“Secrets and lies don’t protect you they strip you bare.”
This is a book that in some ways reminded me of a much tamer Sex in the City with a potential Mr. Big that might not fear commitment. Jade and Rachel are cousins so have been in one another’s lives for all of their lives and Jade came in when Izzy was in college and has been a bestie for at least 20 years. Each of the women has her own secrets but not all are gone into in depth - this is Izzy’s story.
This is a story of change, growth, pain and healing. It made me think and though I have never been in Izzy’s shoes I could identify with her feelings. I believe it is a book that will appeal to women who have gone through a breakup or divorce or have a friend that has been there at some point in time.
I liked this story…it didn’t grab me on the first page but I was definitely hooked before the end.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/St. Martin’s Griffin for the copy of this book to read and review.
Words I wrote down while reading: secrets, lies, truth, friends, family, neighbors, trust, pain, healing…
Quotations that grabbed me:
“Secrets and lies change lives. And rarely in a good way.”
“Secrets and lies don’t protect you they strip you bare.”
This is a book that in some ways reminded me of a much tamer Sex in the City with a potential Mr. Big that might not fear commitment. Jade and Rachel are cousins so have been in one another’s lives for all of their lives and Jade came in when Izzy was in college and has been a bestie for at least 20 years. Each of the women has her own secrets but not all are gone into in depth - this is Izzy’s story.
This is a story of change, growth, pain and healing. It made me think and though I have never been in Izzy’s shoes I could identify with her feelings. I believe it is a book that will appeal to women who have gone through a breakup or divorce or have a friend that has been there at some point in time.
I liked this story…it didn’t grab me on the first page but I was definitely hooked before the end.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/St. Martin’s Griffin for the copy of this book to read and review.
September 20, 2015
THE GOOD NEIGHBOR by Amy Sue Nathan starts out with strong voice and a strong character, Izzy Lane. Here's the first line: "The doorbell rang and I knew it was my ex, just like when my lip tingled and I knew it was a cold sore." How great is that line? It's not false advertisement. The book has many more. Some are zingers. Some are heartwarming. Some impart wisdom. Amy Sue Nathan knows how to bring balance to writing.
Although Izzy is flawed and although she has made a relatable error, she is compelling. About halfway through the novel, the story grows and deepens. This book has it all, humor, voice, character and, need I say it, a good story. I loved THE GOOD NEIGHBOR! (I had the privilege of reading an early edition and will be released on October 13, 2015.)
Although Izzy is flawed and although she has made a relatable error, she is compelling. About halfway through the novel, the story grows and deepens. This book has it all, humor, voice, character and, need I say it, a good story. I loved THE GOOD NEIGHBOR! (I had the privilege of reading an early edition and will be released on October 13, 2015.)
February 22, 2016
My God, I needed this read. First sentence and the story took off. No having to wait to be pulled in and relate to, laugh at and with the MC situations and things she did. Wonderful read which I know I'll read again. I cannot express how much this was needed on so many levels and I cannot wait to get a finished copy to add quotes and trivia. I love that part. Extremely enjoyable read and quick read that's satisfying.
Thank you so much @Goodreads and @StMartinsPress for this gift which I entered for and won through the Goodreads First Reads Program!! Thank You a million times over and then some!!
Thank you so much @Goodreads and @StMartinsPress for this gift which I entered for and won through the Goodreads First Reads Program!! Thank You a million times over and then some!!
March 1, 2017
I really loved this book! It was a fun, easy read, like a breath of fresh air. Nathan's portrayal of a mother's love for her child was so perfect and endeared me to Izzy. I also enjoyed that Izzy was a blogger--I haven't read another book with a blogging main character so it was fun to see the familiar behind the scenes, the ups and downs that come with the job, portrayed in fiction with such honesty. The characters were interesting and the ending very satisfying. Highly recommended!
October 13, 2018
This is a very enjoyable read. I wanted something lighter and though there are some sadder moments, I laughed and really rooted for Izzy to find her footing. And I hoped that when her truth came out, it didn't leave a lot of sadness in it's wake. (You can read it and find out what I mean)
July 21, 2015
I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy of this book, and it came at exactly the right time for me. I'd just finished several wonderful but slow-paced novels and was feeling sluggish myself. When I cracked open The Good Neighbor, I immediately knew I was in for a treat. Yes, there are the usual conventions here—a woman starting over, comic mishaps, a romance that you know is brewing before Izzy, the main character does. But Amy Sue Nathan writes with such sharp humor and with such a big heart for her characters that the story perks along and keeps you turning pages, even as you slap your forehead and cry, “Oh, no, Izzy, don't do that! Come clean now!”
This is also a slyly clever novel that presents us with unique social media dilemmas—no surprise there, since Amy Sue Nathan is a well-regarded blogger who started the award-winning Women's Fiction Writers web site. How much of ourselves we reveal online, and how we do it, is a key cultural question, and she tackles it head-on here. I loved this book.
This is also a slyly clever novel that presents us with unique social media dilemmas—no surprise there, since Amy Sue Nathan is a well-regarded blogger who started the award-winning Women's Fiction Writers web site. How much of ourselves we reveal online, and how we do it, is a key cultural question, and she tackles it head-on here. I loved this book.
September 21, 2015
I received this book from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review.
This book was just "there". It reads very quickly, which is good because I had a very hard time getting invested in the characters. There was very little character development and the story just plodded along and there wasn't really any context as to why Izzy did anything that she was doing. Sure, she was jealous that her ex-husband had moved on, but how long had they been divorced? He left, but why?
Also, the author started a second story line with Mrs. Feldman, but there was never any satisfying conclusion. Why start up a plot line if you are not going to close the loop?
All in all, this book was just ho-hum. It was typical "chick lit" but it wasn't really funny or endearing in any kind of way. I like to throw in a good "easy, beach read" to mix it up, but this was pretty disappointing.
This book was just "there". It reads very quickly, which is good because I had a very hard time getting invested in the characters. There was very little character development and the story just plodded along and there wasn't really any context as to why Izzy did anything that she was doing. Sure, she was jealous that her ex-husband had moved on, but how long had they been divorced? He left, but why?
Also, the author started a second story line with Mrs. Feldman, but there was never any satisfying conclusion. Why start up a plot line if you are not going to close the loop?
All in all, this book was just ho-hum. It was typical "chick lit" but it wasn't really funny or endearing in any kind of way. I like to throw in a good "easy, beach read" to mix it up, but this was pretty disappointing.
January 13, 2016
If you love voice, this is the novel for you. Izzy Lane is a fabulous character, and I loved her voice from page one. I also fell hard for her elderly neighbor, who spoke to me on many levels. THE GOOD NEIGHBOR is a fun, fast read that feels very relevant to now--social media taking on a life of its own; adult kids trying to deal with independent, aging parents; the dating life of older, divorced parents. I think this would be a great book club pick--lots to discuss over a bottle of wine.
October 4, 2015
great characters but hard for me to understand all the drama about a made up boyfriend. it was a non issue. loved Izzy's life story and her relationship with her neighbor. would have loved if it focused more on their story. reminded me in s good way of early Jennifer Weiner. will look for more by this author.
December 25, 2017
A light, fun, easy read! I loved the story!
June 19, 2017
A friend recommended this book, and once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down.
I started reading The Good Neighbor on a flight and was disappointed when the plane landed so I had to stop reading (for a while, at least). The characters were real, relatable and lovable—and their story kept me turning the pages. I wanted Mrs. Feldman to be my neighbor and I was rooting for Izzy to get the happy ending she deserved, even though she kept making mistakes along the way. But isn't that what we all do? :)
Looking forward to reading more from Amy Sue Nathan!
I started reading The Good Neighbor on a flight and was disappointed when the plane landed so I had to stop reading (for a while, at least). The characters were real, relatable and lovable—and their story kept me turning the pages. I wanted Mrs. Feldman to be my neighbor and I was rooting for Izzy to get the happy ending she deserved, even though she kept making mistakes along the way. But isn't that what we all do? :)
Looking forward to reading more from Amy Sue Nathan!
October 18, 2017
I haven’t read a proper chic lit book in a while. This one was cute. It ended how I assumed it would (typical romance outline). I also seem to have a thing with book covers containing doors. This one makes three read this year. And my next book...you bet - has a door on it too. Maybe I’m looking for the next best neighbour thriller?
December 30, 2019
Nice, easy beach read. Enjoyed the storyline.
November 20, 2015
Three stars: An entertaining read with interesting characters, but it lacked a bit of something.
Izzy doesn't know how her blog became so popular. It started out as an outlet for her after her husband, Bruce, left her. Izzy invented a fake boyfriend, Mac, on her blog to make her feel better, and readers have are enamored with Mac and Izzy's dating adventures. Things notch up when Izzy's best friend, Jade, offers her an opportunity to take her blog onto her popular Philly Pop blog. Izzy is hesitant because she doesn't want to continue the lie, but she needs the money since her ex husband lost his job and isn't contributing to their son's child support. At least Izzy has her long time neighbor, Mrs. Feldman for support. What will happen if Izzy continues to lie?
What I Liked:
*The Good Neighbor is an interesting story with likeable characters dealing with real life problems. I enjoyed reading about Izzy's blogging adventures, even though I thought the whole thing with the fake boyfriend was a bit over the top. What made this book shine for me was the close relationship Izzy has with her long time next door neighbor, Mrs. Feldman. I loved the kindly, elderly lady, and I loved getting to know her.
As a blogger, I liked following Izzy's blogging adventures, and I could relate a bit to some of her issues. Even though there was drama centered around the blog because of Izzy's fake boyfriend, I thought the whole story line was interesting.
*This book follows several different types of relationships. It is about friendships, broken relationships, online interactions and even some secrets. I especially enjoyed the focus on the special relationship Izzy has with her next door neighbor, and I also liked Izzy's bond with her brother.
*Mrs. Feldman was the highlight of the story. At eighty five, she is still feisty and fun. I liked how she was Izzy's moral compass and her sounding board. I was intrigued by the secret Mrs. Feldman was hiding, and I was hoping for a positive outcome for her.
*The ending brings everything to a nice conclusion, and even though a couple of the story lines didn't play out the way I had hoped, I was pleased with the way everything resolved. I had only one nagging question.
And The Not So Much:
*There is a big focus on Izzy's blog and her fake boyfriend. I thought the whole concept of the fake boyfriend was a blown a bit out of proportion. Most of us know that a good majority of what we read on the internet is embellished or even false, but we still enjoy reading it because it is entertainment. Who cares if Izzy was blogging about a fake boyfriend, she was entertaining and helping people while she did it. Still, I appreciated that she came clean.
*I wished that there had been a bit more on what Izzy wrote on her blog. You read all these fantastic descriptions of Izzy's bad dates and dating adventures, and I kept wanting to read some of the blog posts, but alas, they are not included. I think it would have been better if the reader was able to read some of the blog, especially considering it was such a big part of the story.
*As I mentioned, I adored Mrs. Feldman, and I was fascinated by her life long secret. However I have to say, I was disappointed that her story line was left dangling, I know in real life, you don't always get the answers, but I was hoping for Mrs. Feldman that she would get hers.
*There really isn't a romance. From the get go, there are hints of a possible romance, and as the book wore on, I kept waiting for that moment, and it did finally happen, but it was during the last few pages. I didn't like the way the romance sparked at the end, it felt thrown in. I would have preferred much more of a buildup as far as the romance goes.
*The first half of the book was a bit slow. I thought too much time was spent discussing the lie of the fake boyfriend and all that. Thankfully, the second half takes off and it is much more engaging.
The Good Neighbor is a book all about different kinds of relationships such as broken marriages, long time friendships, online relationships as well as new friendships, and how they affect our lives. I enjoyed the characters and I liked uncovering their secrets. If you want a realistic read about life and love, then this is a good one to try.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.
Izzy doesn't know how her blog became so popular. It started out as an outlet for her after her husband, Bruce, left her. Izzy invented a fake boyfriend, Mac, on her blog to make her feel better, and readers have are enamored with Mac and Izzy's dating adventures. Things notch up when Izzy's best friend, Jade, offers her an opportunity to take her blog onto her popular Philly Pop blog. Izzy is hesitant because she doesn't want to continue the lie, but she needs the money since her ex husband lost his job and isn't contributing to their son's child support. At least Izzy has her long time neighbor, Mrs. Feldman for support. What will happen if Izzy continues to lie?
What I Liked:
*The Good Neighbor is an interesting story with likeable characters dealing with real life problems. I enjoyed reading about Izzy's blogging adventures, even though I thought the whole thing with the fake boyfriend was a bit over the top. What made this book shine for me was the close relationship Izzy has with her long time next door neighbor, Mrs. Feldman. I loved the kindly, elderly lady, and I loved getting to know her.
As a blogger, I liked following Izzy's blogging adventures, and I could relate a bit to some of her issues. Even though there was drama centered around the blog because of Izzy's fake boyfriend, I thought the whole story line was interesting.
*This book follows several different types of relationships. It is about friendships, broken relationships, online interactions and even some secrets. I especially enjoyed the focus on the special relationship Izzy has with her next door neighbor, and I also liked Izzy's bond with her brother.
*Mrs. Feldman was the highlight of the story. At eighty five, she is still feisty and fun. I liked how she was Izzy's moral compass and her sounding board. I was intrigued by the secret Mrs. Feldman was hiding, and I was hoping for a positive outcome for her.
*The ending brings everything to a nice conclusion, and even though a couple of the story lines didn't play out the way I had hoped, I was pleased with the way everything resolved. I had only one nagging question.
And The Not So Much:
*There is a big focus on Izzy's blog and her fake boyfriend. I thought the whole concept of the fake boyfriend was a blown a bit out of proportion. Most of us know that a good majority of what we read on the internet is embellished or even false, but we still enjoy reading it because it is entertainment. Who cares if Izzy was blogging about a fake boyfriend, she was entertaining and helping people while she did it. Still, I appreciated that she came clean.
*I wished that there had been a bit more on what Izzy wrote on her blog. You read all these fantastic descriptions of Izzy's bad dates and dating adventures, and I kept wanting to read some of the blog posts, but alas, they are not included. I think it would have been better if the reader was able to read some of the blog, especially considering it was such a big part of the story.
*As I mentioned, I adored Mrs. Feldman, and I was fascinated by her life long secret. However I have to say, I was disappointed that her story line was left dangling, I know in real life, you don't always get the answers, but I was hoping for Mrs. Feldman that she would get hers.
*There really isn't a romance. From the get go, there are hints of a possible romance, and as the book wore on, I kept waiting for that moment, and it did finally happen, but it was during the last few pages. I didn't like the way the romance sparked at the end, it felt thrown in. I would have preferred much more of a buildup as far as the romance goes.
*The first half of the book was a bit slow. I thought too much time was spent discussing the lie of the fake boyfriend and all that. Thankfully, the second half takes off and it is much more engaging.
The Good Neighbor is a book all about different kinds of relationships such as broken marriages, long time friendships, online relationships as well as new friendships, and how they affect our lives. I enjoyed the characters and I liked uncovering their secrets. If you want a realistic read about life and love, then this is a good one to try.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.
October 19, 2015
Originally posted at The Bookaholic Cat
After her divorce, Izzy Lane is trying to move on. Going back to living in her childhood home was not what Izzy was expecting, but it was the smarter decision. The rent is low and her elderly neighbor, Mrs. Feldman, is a great emotional support; she also helps her with her five-year-old son, Noah, as she helped her mom when Izzy was growing up.
Izzy is going out and dating, but is one disaster date after another. Her experiences are so funny she decides to write a blog where she writes her thoughts and shares her dating experience; but everything changes when her ex comes to pick up Noah in the company of his new girlfriend. Not to be left behind, Izzy invents a boyfriend (Mac) of her own and starts to blog about him and her perfect dates with him. From one moment to another her blog picks up and everybody is reading it, she has become an online expert in dating; she is even getting pay good money for writing a column giving dating advice. The only problem is her friends want to meet her boyfriend and her readers want to know more about the perfect Mac.
The only person that knows that Mac doesn’t exist is Mrs. Feldman. She doesn’t agree with what Izzy is doing, but she can’t do more than give her wise advice, is up to Izzy to do what is right, but the more time that passes the bigger the lie becomes and the harder it is for Izzy to come clean. The problem is some people are starting to suspect Mac doesn’t exist and her lie has become a snowball; the only question is how devastating the avalanche is going to be when the truth comes to the light.
Izzy had some likeable treats, but she was a frustrating character. Izzy is a good mom and a good person. She wants what is best for her son and does her best for him even when her heart is breaking into pieces. I can imagine how frustrating it can be to start dating again -at almost forty- after a divorce, but lying and creating an imaginary boyfriend is not something that a thirty-nine-year-old woman would do. That’s something that I might see a teenager doing it, but not a mature middle age woman. Also, she had many opportunities to be honest or to simply end the farce, but she preferred to let the lie grow and grow –even when it was affecting other people- and only came clean when she didn’t have any other option.
The character I liked the most was Mrs. Feldman. She was very wise and tried to steer Izzy on the right direction giving her great advice. I also loved her interactions with Noah, who was a very sweet boy.
The rest of the characters did their job in the story conveying the message each one of them was supposed to pass along, but were completely forgettable.
I understand what Amy Sue Nathan tried to do with The Good Neighbor, but I think Izzy’s lie wasn’t such a big deal to have the repercussions it had. Yes, it was bad because a grownup/mature woman shouldn’t create a stupid lie like a fake boyfriend, but the severity of the consequences were a bit too farfetched. Mrs. Feldman’s secret was the only secret interesting in the story and one that could have had serious repercussions, but we only learned about it far into the story and to make matters worse we don’t see how everything pans out for her at the end.
The Good Neighbor by Amy Sue Nathan can we sum-up with this quote from the book: “Secrets and lies change lives. And rarely in a good way.” The Good Neighbor while an entertaining book, it was somewhat unremarkable.
After her divorce, Izzy Lane is trying to move on. Going back to living in her childhood home was not what Izzy was expecting, but it was the smarter decision. The rent is low and her elderly neighbor, Mrs. Feldman, is a great emotional support; she also helps her with her five-year-old son, Noah, as she helped her mom when Izzy was growing up.
Izzy is going out and dating, but is one disaster date after another. Her experiences are so funny she decides to write a blog where she writes her thoughts and shares her dating experience; but everything changes when her ex comes to pick up Noah in the company of his new girlfriend. Not to be left behind, Izzy invents a boyfriend (Mac) of her own and starts to blog about him and her perfect dates with him. From one moment to another her blog picks up and everybody is reading it, she has become an online expert in dating; she is even getting pay good money for writing a column giving dating advice. The only problem is her friends want to meet her boyfriend and her readers want to know more about the perfect Mac.
The only person that knows that Mac doesn’t exist is Mrs. Feldman. She doesn’t agree with what Izzy is doing, but she can’t do more than give her wise advice, is up to Izzy to do what is right, but the more time that passes the bigger the lie becomes and the harder it is for Izzy to come clean. The problem is some people are starting to suspect Mac doesn’t exist and her lie has become a snowball; the only question is how devastating the avalanche is going to be when the truth comes to the light.
Izzy had some likeable treats, but she was a frustrating character. Izzy is a good mom and a good person. She wants what is best for her son and does her best for him even when her heart is breaking into pieces. I can imagine how frustrating it can be to start dating again -at almost forty- after a divorce, but lying and creating an imaginary boyfriend is not something that a thirty-nine-year-old woman would do. That’s something that I might see a teenager doing it, but not a mature middle age woman. Also, she had many opportunities to be honest or to simply end the farce, but she preferred to let the lie grow and grow –even when it was affecting other people- and only came clean when she didn’t have any other option.
The character I liked the most was Mrs. Feldman. She was very wise and tried to steer Izzy on the right direction giving her great advice. I also loved her interactions with Noah, who was a very sweet boy.
The rest of the characters did their job in the story conveying the message each one of them was supposed to pass along, but were completely forgettable.
I understand what Amy Sue Nathan tried to do with The Good Neighbor, but I think Izzy’s lie wasn’t such a big deal to have the repercussions it had. Yes, it was bad because a grownup/mature woman shouldn’t create a stupid lie like a fake boyfriend, but the severity of the consequences were a bit too farfetched. Mrs. Feldman’s secret was the only secret interesting in the story and one that could have had serious repercussions, but we only learned about it far into the story and to make matters worse we don’t see how everything pans out for her at the end.
The Good Neighbor by Amy Sue Nathan can we sum-up with this quote from the book: “Secrets and lies change lives. And rarely in a good way.” The Good Neighbor while an entertaining book, it was somewhat unremarkable.
October 7, 2015
Izzy (Elizabeth) Lane is a single-mother to a five-year-old boy named Noah. She is trying to make ends meet after her husband Bruce leaves her. She is forced to move back to the home she grew up in. I wish she was able to convince herself that she was lucky she had a place to go home to.
Her ex-husband loses his job, leaves Philadelphia to go to California for about a month with his girlfriend, “to network himself”. No connection to Bruce. Did not like this man. He was leaving his responsibilities.
When being introduced to her friends; Jade and Rachel, there is no pull to feel attached to either of one of them. As a matter of fact, they were not really even paying attention to Izzy, but she just let it slide. I was disappointed by how they treated her. I was still waiting to feel any sort of attachment to any character….still waiting to like someone.
A recipe for a great book requires a few things….I mean, you have to like someone, or dislike them enough that you create a connection of discontent….those connections were lacking. I felt rather “flat” when reading this book, and sad that I was not connecting to anyone.
Until Finally, We are introduced to Mrs. Geraldine Feldman! I really liked her spunk. She was 85 years-old and so interesting. She is the same neighbor that Izzy had growing up. Mrs. Feldman was a super likeable woman! I believe there could have been a book based on their relationship alone. She filled many needs for both Izzy and Noah; serving not only as a friend and neighbor, but a surrogate Mother and Grandmother. Mrs. Feldman was my favorite character in the book. I loved when Izzy and Mrs. Feldman met for tea and chats. They were the best part of this book.
After her divorce, Izzy began a blog she named, “Bizzy the Blogger”. Izzy writes about being single and dating…She was making up stories about a “boyfriend” named MAC (named after her computer...lol...cute!) She jokes that her next boyfriend would be named Dell. She was creating a large web of lies on this blog.
She blogged about bad dates with other men, and how dating Mac was going. She has a HUGE following, and once Jade realizes that Izzy’s blog can bring more traffic to her “Pop Philly” site, she makes Izzy an offer she cannot refuse.
Izzy takes the job to Blog for “Pop Philly”…Her blog will now be named “Philly over Forty”. I was intrigued with what she was writing. It was fun when she was telling the truth. It was cool how she was generating traffic from people living outside of Philadelphia, too. She was inspiring people to get out there and date and feel better about themselves.
While this story did not ignite a sense of urgency to read, it was a good story.
It was just that. A Good Story.
3.5 Stars.
Her ex-husband loses his job, leaves Philadelphia to go to California for about a month with his girlfriend, “to network himself”. No connection to Bruce. Did not like this man. He was leaving his responsibilities.
When being introduced to her friends; Jade and Rachel, there is no pull to feel attached to either of one of them. As a matter of fact, they were not really even paying attention to Izzy, but she just let it slide. I was disappointed by how they treated her. I was still waiting to feel any sort of attachment to any character….still waiting to like someone.
A recipe for a great book requires a few things….I mean, you have to like someone, or dislike them enough that you create a connection of discontent….those connections were lacking. I felt rather “flat” when reading this book, and sad that I was not connecting to anyone.
Until Finally, We are introduced to Mrs. Geraldine Feldman! I really liked her spunk. She was 85 years-old and so interesting. She is the same neighbor that Izzy had growing up. Mrs. Feldman was a super likeable woman! I believe there could have been a book based on their relationship alone. She filled many needs for both Izzy and Noah; serving not only as a friend and neighbor, but a surrogate Mother and Grandmother. Mrs. Feldman was my favorite character in the book. I loved when Izzy and Mrs. Feldman met for tea and chats. They were the best part of this book.
After her divorce, Izzy began a blog she named, “Bizzy the Blogger”. Izzy writes about being single and dating…She was making up stories about a “boyfriend” named MAC (named after her computer...lol...cute!) She jokes that her next boyfriend would be named Dell. She was creating a large web of lies on this blog.
She blogged about bad dates with other men, and how dating Mac was going. She has a HUGE following, and once Jade realizes that Izzy’s blog can bring more traffic to her “Pop Philly” site, she makes Izzy an offer she cannot refuse.
Izzy takes the job to Blog for “Pop Philly”…Her blog will now be named “Philly over Forty”. I was intrigued with what she was writing. It was fun when she was telling the truth. It was cool how she was generating traffic from people living outside of Philadelphia, too. She was inspiring people to get out there and date and feel better about themselves.
While this story did not ignite a sense of urgency to read, it was a good story.
It was just that. A Good Story.
3.5 Stars.
February 13, 2016
What an unexpectedly delightful read. Unexpectedly only because I wasn't familiar with Amy Sue Nathan's work before reading The Good Neighbor. I am now a fan. I mainly read historical fiction, but every once in a while I come across a book (or a rather a book cover) that intrigues me. This was one of those books. I mean, it truly is one of the best covers I've seen in a long time. Simple and beautiful. But, this is not the reason I recommend this book. The story line really was good. REALLY GOOD! I could relate to this story in so many ways. I too went through a divorce and had to take over 100% of the care of my children while their father was coping with his new single-life. I was very moved by how this situation was presented. The callousness with which the ex-husband thinks that his ex-wife should be considerate of his need to "find himself" while on a trip to California with a new girlfriend that is going to take care of him financially. He wants to be absolved of any responsibility to caring for their son - until he gets himself together. What can she do but move on and take over the responsibilities to parenting that his absence creates. ASN conveyed the feelings of frustration and anger Izzy experiences. Nobody can really take a break from parenting. That's just ridiculous. It's like breathing - you just have to do it. On top of becoming only parent to their son, Izzy is trying to adjust to being single. She starts a blog in which she blogs about her love life with a made-up boyfriend who is almost too good to be true. Not to mention that his name is Mac (hmmm.. a lot like her laptop). Her blog is picked up by her best friend's struggling website and it becomes and immediate hit. However, although she tries to let her friends know that her perfect Mac is a figment of her imagination, they just hear what they want to hear and so escalates her conundrum. There is a secondary story about Izzy's 80 year old neighbor - Mrs. Feldman - whom she has known since childhood and trusts and loves as much as her own mother. Mrs. Feldman knows about Izzy's secret and with secrets of her own she understands and tries to provide Izzy with the guidance she desperately needs. The relationship between Izzy and Mrs. Feldman is simply beautiful and even fun. I really loved this book. I appreciated the emphasis on how difficult it is to be a mom, to turn 40, to appear as though you've got it all together although you may not.... It is a real story that I greatly appreciated and loved.
June 22, 2017
The main character, Izzy, was so relatable to me. She felt like a girlfriend. Izzy is going through big changes in her life and we as readers get to navigate those changes with her. At points I found myself yelling at Izzy to make a different choice than the one she made. Life is messy and change is hard but with family and friends we can make it through.
December 21, 2015
Lies and secrets. Are they okay? Can they bring trouble? Who do they hurt?
Well Izzy Lane is about to find out. She is a single mother, with a delightful five year old son Noah, and she has returned home to her family home and the neighborhood she grew up in. She wants to move forward after her divorce from Bruce Silverstein.
In the next door house is the delightful older woman, Mrs Feldman. Izzy spent much time with her when she was growing up, and now that relationship takes up again, in all its trust and honesty.
Izzy also has a very good friend Jade and a cousin Rachel who together make up a small team of supporters for Izzy. She has a job as a school counsellor and everything is moving along fairly well until Bruce reneges on his child support and heads off. Izzy is left wondering how she is going to cover costs when Jade who has a successful online social media business gives her a spot on her online media so that she can extend their audience with a Philly over Forty spot. Izzy will cater for those over forties, who are single again, or single parents or.... whatever.
But Izzy is harboring a secret. In her previous blog she had invented "Mac" a boyfriend who is not real and Jade very much wants him part of the Philly over Forty scenario. So Izzy who is always drumming up the moment to reveal her lie - doesn't.
Throw in a jealous co worker, a somewhat enigmatic lawyer, family and a swag of online commenters and you have a whole neigborhood of people. Who was the good neighbor? Still pondering, but I think Izzy and Mrs Feldman definitely and that whole neighborhood on Good St. On the other hand everyone is our neighbor, so how good a friend and neighbor is Izzy all round?
My favorite character was Izzy. I am going to go out on a bit of a limb and say what she did I did not find that terrible. Maybe because it's written in the first person and I could understand her point of view. However she did fail to trust her friends and that could be the crux. I found the fallout from the reveal somewhat severe. At 95% I was thinking.... really!
I really enjoyed the read, definitely one that I'd enjoy discussing in a book club situation.
Well Izzy Lane is about to find out. She is a single mother, with a delightful five year old son Noah, and she has returned home to her family home and the neighborhood she grew up in. She wants to move forward after her divorce from Bruce Silverstein.
In the next door house is the delightful older woman, Mrs Feldman. Izzy spent much time with her when she was growing up, and now that relationship takes up again, in all its trust and honesty.
Izzy also has a very good friend Jade and a cousin Rachel who together make up a small team of supporters for Izzy. She has a job as a school counsellor and everything is moving along fairly well until Bruce reneges on his child support and heads off. Izzy is left wondering how she is going to cover costs when Jade who has a successful online social media business gives her a spot on her online media so that she can extend their audience with a Philly over Forty spot. Izzy will cater for those over forties, who are single again, or single parents or.... whatever.
But Izzy is harboring a secret. In her previous blog she had invented "Mac" a boyfriend who is not real and Jade very much wants him part of the Philly over Forty scenario. So Izzy who is always drumming up the moment to reveal her lie - doesn't.
Throw in a jealous co worker, a somewhat enigmatic lawyer, family and a swag of online commenters and you have a whole neigborhood of people. Who was the good neighbor? Still pondering, but I think Izzy and Mrs Feldman definitely and that whole neighborhood on Good St. On the other hand everyone is our neighbor, so how good a friend and neighbor is Izzy all round?
My favorite character was Izzy. I am going to go out on a bit of a limb and say what she did I did not find that terrible. Maybe because it's written in the first person and I could understand her point of view. However she did fail to trust her friends and that could be the crux. I found the fallout from the reveal somewhat severe. At 95% I was thinking.... really!
I really enjoyed the read, definitely one that I'd enjoy discussing in a book club situation.
February 8, 2016
Recently divorced, Izzy finds herself right back where she started -- literally, she's living in the house she grew up in (her parents have moved on to retirement), struggling to take care of her young son Noah, and dealing with the fact that her ex, Bruce, is dating again. A school counselor by day, Izzy finds solace in blogging about her woes and dating life online at night. But when she starts writing about an imaginary boyfriend, "Mac," to make herself feel better about Bruce's new girlfriend, things go south quickly, especially when Izzy's blog takes off after her friend hires her to write for her up and coming "Philly Over 40" site. The only person Izzy can confide in is her next door neighbor, Mrs. Feldman, but her sweet 80-something neighbor may have a few secrets of her own.
I must confess, I almost gave up on this book in the beginning. It just seemed to start slowly for me. There is a lot of hand wringing from Izzy about her life and her blog. Eventually things take off and the plot gets more exciting. My biggest issue is that, in many ways, Izzy's fabrication of "Mac" doesn't really seem to be the huge deal that she makes it out to be. Sure, she shouldn't be lying to everyone, but really, her lie is going to supposedly bring down her friends' business, destroy all her friendships, and ruin Izzy's life? It is just a blog after all. Some of that just seems to be a stretch. Compare to the heartwarming and heartbreaking storyline with Mrs. Feldman -- it truly can't compare.
However, because I'm a total sucker, I kept imagining this movie as a romantic comedy or sitcom. I was sort of tense reading this novel, because you knew eventually the lie would be revealed, everything would get crazy, and all would be for naught... but you hoped like any "good" romantic comedy or sitcom, it would still tie up pretty neatly with a bow at the end, right? (And I won't lie, I sort of like that sometimes. There's enough uncertainty in real life.)
(Note: I received an advanced copy of this book via Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.)
I must confess, I almost gave up on this book in the beginning. It just seemed to start slowly for me. There is a lot of hand wringing from Izzy about her life and her blog. Eventually things take off and the plot gets more exciting. My biggest issue is that, in many ways, Izzy's fabrication of "Mac" doesn't really seem to be the huge deal that she makes it out to be. Sure, she shouldn't be lying to everyone, but really, her lie is going to supposedly bring down her friends' business, destroy all her friendships, and ruin Izzy's life? It is just a blog after all. Some of that just seems to be a stretch. Compare to the heartwarming and heartbreaking storyline with Mrs. Feldman -- it truly can't compare.
However, because I'm a total sucker, I kept imagining this movie as a romantic comedy or sitcom. I was sort of tense reading this novel, because you knew eventually the lie would be revealed, everything would get crazy, and all would be for naught... but you hoped like any "good" romantic comedy or sitcom, it would still tie up pretty neatly with a bow at the end, right? (And I won't lie, I sort of like that sometimes. There's enough uncertainty in real life.)
(Note: I received an advanced copy of this book via Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.)
September 16, 2015
I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my fair and honest review. All thoughts are my own.
In a world where social media is a big part of every day life, it is easy to create, pretend, fabricate.... not to hurt anyone, just to escape.....and that is what Izzy Lane did...
In Izzy's opinion, she has come full circle. She did everything she was supposed to do. She went to college, got married, had a baby....now, she is living back in her childhood home where it all began. Divorce, child custody, child support, all the things Izzy didn't expect to be part of are now in her life. Her ex husband Bruce has moved on, he has a girlfriend, and his life seems to be moving forward. Izzy feels cheated, let down and insecure. Her life is all about her son, Noah, however, her jealousy leads her to "create" her own happiness, via her blog. Her blog is about her, a place where she can be and do whatever makes her happy. This works until Mac makes an appearance. Mac is wonderful, loving, caring, devoted, everything Izzy wants and needs in a man.....
When Izzy's best friend Jade asks her to work for her social media website, Izzy is hesitant, she doesn't want to go public, she'd rather keep her secrets to herself.
Only her neighbor, Mrs. Feldman knows Izzy's secret and her love and devotion to Izzy and Noah is why she insists Izzy tell the truth.
Mrs. Feldman has her own secrets and her own story is one of honor, sadness, grief and love.
As the story continues, you will laugh and cry, shout and cheer as all the characters come full circle in this amazing story.
I was deeply touched by this story, it spoke in volumes of the way one little secret can snowball into something huge.
You won't be disappointed if you read this book. I could not put it down. I had to keep reading, I had to find out what happened in the end. Hurry up, buy the book and get ready to lose yourself into Izzy's world, you will love it!
I wish I could give this 10 stars, it's that good!
In a world where social media is a big part of every day life, it is easy to create, pretend, fabricate.... not to hurt anyone, just to escape.....and that is what Izzy Lane did...
In Izzy's opinion, she has come full circle. She did everything she was supposed to do. She went to college, got married, had a baby....now, she is living back in her childhood home where it all began. Divorce, child custody, child support, all the things Izzy didn't expect to be part of are now in her life. Her ex husband Bruce has moved on, he has a girlfriend, and his life seems to be moving forward. Izzy feels cheated, let down and insecure. Her life is all about her son, Noah, however, her jealousy leads her to "create" her own happiness, via her blog. Her blog is about her, a place where she can be and do whatever makes her happy. This works until Mac makes an appearance. Mac is wonderful, loving, caring, devoted, everything Izzy wants and needs in a man.....
When Izzy's best friend Jade asks her to work for her social media website, Izzy is hesitant, she doesn't want to go public, she'd rather keep her secrets to herself.
Only her neighbor, Mrs. Feldman knows Izzy's secret and her love and devotion to Izzy and Noah is why she insists Izzy tell the truth.
Mrs. Feldman has her own secrets and her own story is one of honor, sadness, grief and love.
As the story continues, you will laugh and cry, shout and cheer as all the characters come full circle in this amazing story.
I was deeply touched by this story, it spoke in volumes of the way one little secret can snowball into something huge.
You won't be disappointed if you read this book. I could not put it down. I had to keep reading, I had to find out what happened in the end. Hurry up, buy the book and get ready to lose yourself into Izzy's world, you will love it!
I wish I could give this 10 stars, it's that good!
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