Mia Abbott’s move to Manchester was supposed to give her time and space from all the disastrous romantic choices she’s made in her past. But then the hot guy who lives opposite – the one who works out every day at exactly 10 a.m., not that Mia has noticed thank-you-very-much – starts leaving notes in his window…for her.
Bar owner Luke Doyle has his own issues to deal with but as he shows Mia the sites of her new city he also shows her what real romance looks like for the first time. And when he cooks up a signature cocktail in her honour, she realises that the man behind the bar is even more enticing than any of his creations. And once she’s had a taste she knows it will never be enough! (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads.)
The unique premise behind Mr. Right Across the Street immediately drew me into the storyline of Mia and Luke: a woman who makes a move to a new city in order to gain a fresh start; a man who devotes his life to righting the wrongs in his life. But at first glance, neither character knows or understands the meaning behind each other’s lives in Manchester, or why they’re there. Mia has her own ideas about the hunky bartender, who seems to always attract a following of beautiful women in his wake, while Luke sees Mia as a quirky individual who is totally different from the type of woman he’s used to. The two contrasting personalities brought on intriguing scenarios from the get go!
The notes in the window were so unlike anything I’ve ever seen. It added an element of charm and nostalgia in a day and age where we’re so used to instant gratification, with text messages and cell phones, emails and DMs. Soon, the special notes provided not only a means in getting Mia and Luke together while he showed her around the city, but it also helped to show glimpses of the characters and who they really are as we see this potential romance unfold.
Mia has a hard time letting go of the past, and she also has a hard time with preconceived notions of who a person is based on appearances. This not only showed in her lack of trust that Luke could look at her and see more than just the quirky nerd who prefers gaming over nights on the town, but it also showed in the way she perceives the women who go to Luke’s bar, the ones who she sees as the epitome of female. Then there’s Luke, who tends to steer clear of anything deep and meaningful, preferring flings over relationships because it’s so much easier and safer that way. So much of Mr. Right delved deeper than the budding romance between two unlikely people. It also broke down a lot of the prejudgements that can come from not really seeing beyond the outer appearances and overall first impressions, allowing a more rounded viewpoint of what can come from giving someone a chance.
At first glance, I had my own preconceived notions, wondering if this would be a typical romance novel where girl meets boy, they fall for each other, end of story. Yet, there was so much more. We have two sweetly flawed characters who both have baggage, trying to figure it out the best way they can, and it’s not always perfect. But, the imperfections is what made Mr. Right Across the Street such a wonderful, five-star read!
Thanks to Rachel's Random Resources for the book in exchange for an honest review.
With a husband who asks every Valentine's Day whether he has to buy a card (yes, he does), any romance is all in my head. Then again, his unstinting support of my career change proves love isn't always about hearts and flowers - and heroes come in many disguises.
Aw, what a gorgeous review. Thank you so much for taking part in the blog tour and for your kind words :-)
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