WARNING: In my opinion as a Children's/Teen Lead bookseller I find this book inappropriate for teens under the age of 17 due to sexual content. Reader be warned.
The Boy Next Door isn't my typical kind of read but it'll be an easy favorite for fans of The Boy Who Sneaks in my Bedroom Window by Kristy Moseley or Wanted by Kelly Elliot. This book is a very back and forth, friends-to-more trope that has some heart squeezing cute moments and a palpable chemistry between your two leads. With some steamy scenes it was nice to get a teen book that didn't shame the girl for her sexual interests, but one chapter in particular makes me wary to gear this to a younger teen reader.
Maddy and Gabe have been best friends and skating parents since they were children. This year is their big chance to make it to the world championship, but their new routines shakes things up on and off the ice. Their old routine based off The Incredibles is replaced by Romeo and Juliet, making them think a bit more on a subject they'd been trying to avoid. Maddy has always been in love with Gabe, although Gabe feels the same he has kept his feelings under wraps for a long time. Gabe doesn't have such good luck with dating, within two weeks after they get to home base, the relationship ends. He's afraid he'll do that to Maddy, the one girl he can not afford to lose. Maddy is tired of waiting for Gabe to make a move and won't let his fear of "falling" stop her from getting what she wants. With the new romantic routine and Maddy taking off her kiddie gloves, it doesn't take long for Gabe's feelings to bust through the surface. With twists and turns to make your head spin and your heart stop, they have a long road ahead of them if they plan to take their close relationship to moments off the ice.
Definitely a fun and light read The Boy Next Door delivers a romantic adventure with ups and downs steep enough to make your stomach drop. My one complaint about this book is, because I am not into figure skating I was really lost on a lot of terminology. There were a few paragraphs where I couldn't envision more than the ice rink due to technical jargon. Besides that this book is a feel good story with two characters that love each other deeply and will do whatever it takes to make the other one happy.
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