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Corio Heights #1

The New Neighbor

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What do you do with an irresistible neighbor you didn’t account for in your life?

Caleb had big dreams of opening a bakery when he was young, but they were shattered when tragedy struck, making him the man of the house. His Mom and younger brother depend on him to be strong and support them, even if it meant sacrificing himself. He was resigned to being a cog in the wheel in a job he hated, until his new neighbor moves in and challenges everything.

Zack didn’t do relationships. After his family cut ties with him, he vowed to stick to friendships in the future. However, when his blushing neighbor overhears him mention erectile dysfunction and balls, he can’t let the cute man leave thinking he has issues with his lower parts.

The New Neighbor is book 1 of the Corio Heights series about well, the new neighbor. Join Caleb and Zack’s story as they discover that they can have more than what they resigned themselves to. It features a regal cat, hurt/comfort themes, and lots of blushing.

218 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 20, 2021

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About the author

Rye Cox

12 books81 followers
Be sure to follow to stay updated on latest release: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/rye-cox

Rye is an M/M Romance author who is a romantic at heart. She believes that love conquers all, and that's why her stories are guaranteed to always have an HEA. When she's not writing, she escapes to the world of books or daydreams about becoming a future cat lady.

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5 stars
145 (31%)
4 stars
190 (40%)
3 stars
109 (23%)
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14 (2%)
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9 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
Profile Image for Jamie.
556 reviews101 followers
February 5, 2024
Tried a new author, and I really enjoyed this book. The exact kind of sweet fluffy no angst vibes I love. Short, simple & sweet story. The slow burn was so good, and the set ups for future books sounded really good as well.
Profile Image for Bookreader87(Amanda).
1,066 reviews39 followers
September 25, 2021
2.75 stars

Caleb is the shy neighbor who works as an accountant to support his family but he also has a love for baking.

Zack is the outgoing guy who works as a consultant and has a lovely cat name Lady.

The two click after first meeting and become fast friends.

It was a cute story of neighbors who develop a friendship that turns into more. It is a slow burn but you get to spend time with them as they learn about one another. They are both skeptical about their ability to be in a relationship so even though they want it they're hesitant. Zack has to ease Caleb into the more without scaring him off.

Overall it was an adorable read but the writing does need some tightening. Also like whatever happened with Zack and his boss? That was weirdly done 🤷🏽‍♀️
Profile Image for Jacqueleen the Reading Queen♡.
1,244 reviews75 followers
September 26, 2021
This was an absolute sweet tooth read and since one of the MCs is a baker of desserts, it is doubly sweet. Both MCs embodied kindness and were the perfect match for each other. I loved how each of them stepped into the role of caretaker when the other was vulnerable. It was such a balanced relationship and super slow burn. It developed very organically from friends to feelings and I really enjoyed every moment.

The side character friends were fun additions and I will not so patiently wait for Ians book to come out next.
Profile Image for Ed Davis.
2,466 reviews85 followers
November 11, 2023
This was a sweet read. I enjoyed the story but wasn’t blown away by it. I did appreciate that there was no break up at 80%. I’ll certainly look forward to more by this author.
458 reviews2 followers
September 28, 2021
This was my first book by Rye Cox and I thought it was pretty cute. The writing style is easy-going and it's fun to read Zack and Caleb's story.
I found them both likable and I could almost smell Caleb's pastries. However, Caleb is also a man to fall in love with.
From the first time they meet, they spark and I found their interaction adorable. The two are neighbors, get along well, and begin a wonderful friendship. Both Caleb and Zack have their issues and it takes a while for them to get together.
I read an ARC copy of this book and am volunteering my honest review.

If you like slow moving romance novels, this sweet romance is for you. Sexy protagonists, sweet cookies and an equally sweet cat. I'm already looking forward to the next volume!
March 11, 2024
This is the first book I have read by this author. It was a cute story. Caleb and Zack were cute together and this is definitely a slow burn strangers to friends to lovers. It was a little too slow burn for me but I can appreciate that they wanted to get to know each better and both didn’t really want a relationship to start. I would recommend if you enjoy this author.
Profile Image for Cindi.
1,613 reviews84 followers
April 12, 2022
3.5 stars.

I liked Zack a lot. I liked Caleb too, but his blushing and getting embarrassed over the slightest thing got a little tiring.

This is a very slow burn. Zack and Caleb become friends first, which is good, but it's also bad because it took SO long for them to go beyond just the friendship.



Overall, a sweet romance. I've already started reading The Flirty Neighbor, the next one in the series.

Full review can be found at -

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Profile Image for K-Me.
1,688 reviews
September 19, 2021
What a sneaky sweet surprise this book was!! Caleb was all things adorable and Zach was a big supportive sweetheart too!!! I was reeled in from the moment they met by Caleb bringing his new neighbor Zach homemade cookies!! Zach's friend Eric stole the show though!!! Caleb is working through a lot of family responsibility and Zach has never been a relationship guy, so you will definitely want to read and see how their friendship and romance all comes together! I received an ARC of this book and it is a first book by this author! Wonderful characters and all around feel good read!
Profile Image for Duckie Mack.
Author 21 books171 followers
September 26, 2021
This book was so sweet. I just loved how awkward and bumbly Caleb was, and how patient and caring Zack was. These two were totally meant to be together, and I loved how well they balanced each other. This is a slow burn romance, but it is so worth it. And once they do get together...whew..it is spicy.
This book is really low angst, and just happy and sweet, but word of caution- it will make you hungry with all the food and desserts in it LOL I can't wait for the next book.
Profile Image for LC.
580 reviews4 followers
September 21, 2022
so sweet!

I’m not sure how I missed The New Neighbor, since it is the first book in the series. It is so sweet!! I adore Caleb and Zack. They have so many moments of happiness together that I just didn’t want the story to end.
Profile Image for Joyfully Jay.
7,996 reviews462 followers
October 29, 2021
A Joyfully Jay review.

3 stars


The New Neighbor is the first in the Corio Heights series and while I suspect there may be some overlapping characters in future works, this initial novel strikes me as a standalone. And honestly, it’s fine. Just fine. It’s not terrible, but it’s not exactly great either. The characters, plot, and pacing are all on the humdrum side and and often slow moving. While another reader might enjoy it more, The New Neighbor never really captured my interest.

I think the biggest issue is the writing. It isn’t bad and on a technical level it’s okay, but it lacked depth. Nothing dipped below a very surface level of interaction, either between the characters or between me, as a reader, and the overall story. It felt a bit like I was reading the idea of a story, but not necessarily getting many layers.

Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.


Profile Image for Tom.
167 reviews
September 27, 2022
DNF
Too sweet/saccharine for me. The MCs don’t act like they’re in the late 20s—more like early 20s
Profile Image for Natalie.
260 reviews9 followers
October 25, 2023
Zack & Caleb

Rating: 3.6 ⭐
Heat: 🌶️

- Slow burn
- Neighbors
- Sweets and Treats
- Friends-to-lovers
- MM Romance

This is a slow burn romance, so please be prepared for that go into the story. Caleb is shy and can be awkward in his interactions with people he doesn’t know. He is so sweet and feels a deep need to take care of mother and brother after his father passed away. Instead of fulfilling his dreams of owning a bakery, he has been an accountant for years. While his mother tries to get him to take care of himself instead, you could still feel how much his family appreciated his help and only wanted the best things to come to him. I loved his dating analogy about how penguins show interest in another by giving them a pebble instead of having the other person guessing. I felt that and cackled laughing at his sheer confusion about if someone was flirting with him or not. When he would use his best friend Ian as a sounding board to go over his interactions with his hot new neighbor, you could feel how much Ian adored his clueless friend. Zack is a restaurant consultant that is moving into a new apartment and dealing with some drama from his new manager at work. He is an outgoing guy who lives to enjoy his life but always feels like he isn’t tethered to anything permanently. Any time he has tried in the past, it ended in failure for his relationships, especially with his parents. He has great friends in Scott and Eric and they try to help him navigate his feelings and ambitions throughout the story. He comes with his cat Lady and she definitely rules the roost, but I loved her and what she means to Zack.

Zack has the best meet cute with shy Caleb who walked in at the wrong time, welcome cookies in tow. Zack has an instant attraction to Caleb and can tell he’s different than other people he’s had an interest in but knows he will not be good long term for Caleb. Caleb is also instantly attracted to Zack but he can’t tell if there’s reciprocated interest, plus he keeps people in specific boxes and he’s not sure what box he would put Zack in. These two become friends and overtime they grow close, basically already boyfriends without Caleb even noticing. This ended up being the best approach for both of them to be comfortable with each other and to see the other as their future and not a repeat of their past attempts. They are great together and make the other feel whole while supporting the others dreams. What Zack did for Caleb to help him bring his dream into reality was the sweetest gesture. There are a lot of repeat mentions of blushing and gasping, gulping, etc. that can kind of get in the way of the story, so just a heads up there if that’s a pet peeve for you.

Now I’ve also read the prequel where these two meet five years earlier, “Chance Encounter”, but it’s not actually mentioned in this book. There’s a moment when Caleb seems to remember meeting him before because of Zack’s unmistakable green eyes, but it’s never really addressed at all, weird. I’m looking forward to Ian and Scott’s book next to see how their love story plays out. Also, not sure what will happen in the future with Zack’s old boss who caused drama at the first half of the book and then just faded away as he tried to avoid Zack in the end. Maybe he will get his own book in the series and this was just the setup for him, not sure but it made the story a little disjointed.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Verse: No
HEA: Yes
Profile Image for Ashley -Goldstarreads.
775 reviews12 followers
October 3, 2023
Cute and sweet. This story is about new neighbors, Caleb and Zack. It is a neighbors to friends to lovers story. Caleb is awkward, cute, analytical and very logical except when he isn’t. Like his what if scenarios are not logical at all. He’s a sweet guy and makes sweet treats. He grew up baking with his dad for fun, til his dad passed away. He still bakes for fun and put his dream of opening a bakery on hold to help take care of his mom and kid brother. He seems to struggle pretty hard with intimacy unless they are friends. So, when Zack moves in next door and they both are crushing on each other, they become friends. Being friends first is probably the only way anything would have happened with Caleb. Now, Zach is a restaurant consultant and is struggling at work due to a new manager and new personal goals it seems. The only people he seems to have in his life, besides his cat Lady, are his two friends Eric and Scott. And can I just say, I love Lady. That is actually the name of our beloved family cat that recently passed away, so this book was a bit hard to read for the personal connection at times. But I love it when a story makes a personal connection. Zack has zero family though and what his parents put him through is a travesty. But Caleb and Zack hit it off as friends and slowly become more. They are very cute together, very tooth achingly sweet, and spicy when it finally got there. This was a very slow burn. Now, for my dislikes, it was too much of a slow burn for me, too slow on the relationship development for me. It also felt like I was being told things too much, like told they were laughing instead of seeing why, for example. The thing that took it from a closer to a 4 to a 3 was the workplace drama Zack had. In the beginning his drama with Joshua was a big part of his story and then it just disappeared, no reason why Joshua behaved that way or anything. Just a brief mention that Joshua said “it’s me, not you”. It felt unfinished and I don’t like being left hanging in a story, unless it’s the plot to the very next book and then that’s a great way to grab your attention for that story but it’s not, the epilogue told his who is going to be next. At times the story just moved too slow for me, not enough angst. It was a great friends to lovers fluffy story. It was good, with the potential to be amazing with some angst thrown in there. I enjoyed it and would recommend to someone looking for a fluffy friends to lovers slow burn story.
Profile Image for Katey Guillot.
634 reviews10 followers
November 13, 2023
I will never not love fluff!

And this book was f l u f f y. So much cuteness. Also, I wish my cats were as (mostly) well-behaved as Lady, but alas, I’m currently draining my spray bottle trying to keep the little gremlins off the counter.

The whole thing is just a love bomb. There’s no angst, the love story is very slow burn, the spice is mild and gentle with a dash of growly possessiveness, and the SoL storyline is right up my alley. The characters are all adorable, and I will never be mad at any of it.

But I will be mad at inconsistent details. And by page 19, I’d already slogged through too many. Better editing would’ve caught them easily, which is always frustrating, but the out-loud read of the MS would’ve cleared them up even if the editor missed them, so what’s really going on? I have a smooth brain, y’all. I need things to match up.

Then there was the tense slips, missed proofreading, and the formatting. I don’t know why, but not tabbing your paragraphs comes off as clinical when you’re reading a book. I’ve never really minded in essays, research papers, short stories, and even smaller novellas, but a book? I need that spacing. Don’t try to ask me why because I for real cannot tell you.

Oh, and one more gripe—that sounds ridiculous but matters—is the use of the word ‘butt’ in a spicy scene. If you’re going to write explicit content, I promise we can handle the ‘a’-word. We’re grown, the characters are grown…I cannot take the scene seriously when the word ‘butt’ comes out to play. It instantly turns things all the way down and kills the mood, giving juvenile and awkward, and that’s not the vibe.

Even with the misses, the story was exactly the kind of thing I crave when I’m deep in my fluff goblin bs. I want to keep reading the series to see the sweet lil’ satellite babies get their HEAs. The bad didn’t outweigh the good, and I recommend this book if you’re looking for cavities in your heart.

3/5. My cats may not be stomping a cheesecake to death, but they are driving me insane. I gotta go pretend Lady is a real kitty and use her to shame mine into submission for the night. And download the next book, duh. ✌🏽🙄
Profile Image for Juniper.
2,907 reviews21 followers
September 24, 2021
This book has all of the ingredients (yes, one character loves baking, so I stand by my analogy) for a delightful romance: there’s the guy-next-door (literally) with a meet-cute (it involves baked goods) and a slow burn (yet more baked goods). The protagonists are different enough that they have a bit of an “opposites attract” vibe. For potential, A+. For execution, I’m giving it a B. The subplot about Zach’s job felt a bit contrived at times, as did Zach’s “oh no I don’t do relationships….but the blushing...maybe now I do” personal arc, if only because we don’t really get depth or context on why he’s supposedly so toxic to the very idea of a relationship and because he holds on to the conviction that he is for maybe a paragraph or two. And finally, as a character, Caleb never quite worked for me. He’s clearly supposed to be super charming, but his whole ingenue affect often felt contrived and over the top. Some examples: he takes his horoscope super seriously (he chose his job because it was on a list or recommended careers for Virgos, and it doesn’t seem to have sunk in for him that the fact that he absolutely loathes that job probably means he should find a different way to determine life plans). He blushes constantly, at everything, and everyone remarks, every single time, on how delightful that is. He’s oblivious to body language and basic social cues, until, of course, he isn’t. He looks at Zach and thinks things like “his cute expressions just made me want to pinch his cheeks,” which felt more grandmotherly to me than romantic. He’s clearly supposed to be charming, but sometimes he reads more like a teenager than an adult, and others he comes off like an octogenarian (see the cheek pinching). Overall, I loved the premise, and there was plenty to enjoy in this novel-- not least the fact that the other residents of the building the protagonists both live in are charismatic and interesting and clearly soon to have stories of their own. If the blurb appeals, give this one a try.

*I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Sarah C.
366 reviews2 followers
September 19, 2021
The New Neighbor hooked me from the very beginning. Zack and Caleb were compelling characters that pulled me in from the start and kept me wanting more.

The New Neighbor focuses on two neighbors (obviously) - Zack and Caleb. Zack has recently moved into the building, works at a decent job but has a new supervisor who hates him for some unknown reason, and owns the best cat in the world, Lady. Caleb is an accountant who would rather be a baker but chose a practical career he doesn't actually like to help support his mom and younger brother after the tragic loss of his father when he was eleven. Almost every decision he makes is about what is best for other people. His own happiness isn't even secondary, because he could find someone else to prioritize.

Caleb is also incredibly socially awkward and prone to rambling and I just love him so very much.

Caleb and Zack have a meet cute where Caleb comes over to bring cookies and accidentally hears a bit too much from Zack. Its adorable. Its awkward. As they get to know one another, there are other adorably awkward moments until the moments are less awkward because they are more comfortable around one another. And that is a really cute thing to actually get to witness.

There is a slow burn to the romance itself, but the time they spend getting to know one another works better. It makes the burn not feel quite so slow and you're not quite as ready to throw the book across the room - at least that was my experience.

The side characters in this book were great and I'm very excited to read some of their stories. I think the one I want to read most will be Ian. I really want to see if I'm right about who his love interest is going to be and how that's going to work out.

Rye Cox is a new to me author and already has a collection on my kindle waiting to be filled with their future works.

** ARC PROVIDED BY AUTHOR FOR FAIR REVIEW **
Profile Image for Heather Richardson.
113 reviews3 followers
September 20, 2021
I absolutely adored Caleb and Zack! This was a sweet neighbor's to friends-to-lovers story with a bit of steam rolled in. The New Neighbor is book one in the Corio Heights series by new author Rye Cox. I enjoyed every bit of this story from the beginning to the end. The characters were so enjoyable and likable I just couldn't get enough. The author developed the characters and the storyline in a subtle way for the reader to really get a feel for who they are.

When Zack moved in next door to Caleb, it was an instant attraction. Zack knew he wanted to get to know the shy, adorable Caleb, and Caleb, as shy as he is, was intrigued to find out who Zack really was. Caleb grew up baking with his father in their small kitchen and knew he wanted to open a bakery someday. When his dad died, he knew he had to put his family first and the bakery idea on the back burner. He had to be able to support his family and the only way he knew how to do that was to find a job that pay both his bills and his mom's. Zack's family, on the other hand, cut him loose when he came out and his boyfriend cheated on him; in turn, he decided he wouldn't do any more relationships. There's just something about Caleb though. The more time they spend together, the more he's drawn to the shy baker. When he learns of Caleb's dream to open a bakery, he decides he wants to make that dream come true. Can Zack convince Caleb that he can have the bakery and can Caleb find a way to convince Zack to give a relationship with him a try?

The friendship they build and the many sweets Caleb makes for Zack to get his attention were just too adorable. They just had this way together that I just couldn't get enough of. I also loved the supporting characters, especially Ian and Scott. I can't wait to see how their story plays out. I would definitely recommend this book to all readers that like a little sweetness in their romance.

I received an ARC for my honest review from Gay Romance Reviews.
Profile Image for Xanthe.
2,110 reviews36 followers
September 26, 2021
*4.5*
The New Neighbor is a wonderfully sweet, low angst, slow burn romance between new neighbors Caleb and Zack. It's a great first book from Rye Cox and I'm really looking forward to more from this series as we've been introduced to several men who deserve a HEA of their own and are even teased about who may be next in the epilogue.
Caleb is just the sweetest guy, totally endearing. Constantly baking for his friends, neighbors and family, something that use to be his dream but was put to the side after his father passed away and he now works hard to help support his mother and brother. Zack is new to the building and only does the hookup thing after bad experiences and having one too many times of not being good enough for the other person...... /parents. Both catch the eye of the other upon their first ever so slightly embarrassing meeting but Caleb is sure someone like Zack would never go for him and Zack doesn't want to treat this wonderful guy as a one and done.
Their friendship blossoms and develops, slowly becoming more without either really realising. They're totally endearing and have many qualities that draw the other. I love Zack's live for his cat, Lady, and Caleb's love for his family shines through and even though they both have close and best friends, they're still a little lonely without that significant other. There's a lot of fun and easy times between the two and their friends, I especially enjoyed a drunk Caleb, but when they realise what they can have with each other, it just lifts the book that bit more.
A fabulous romance to read that I highly recommend. It's an easy story to fall into and enjoy all the way through with very little angst so you can get your full of light and fluffy with a little heat for good measure.
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.
Profile Image for Tam.
Author 21 books100 followers
June 6, 2022
This was a cute story, with very little angst or drama, just normal life, but I liked them both so much it kept me reading. Caleb is an accountant who has dreams of running a bakery, but his father died when he was a child and he helps out his mom and younger brother, so doesn't feel it's feasible. He's also hella socially awkward. He gets a new neighbor Zach who is a consultant for the hospitality industry (and a hottie) and their first meeting when Caleb delivers cookies is awkward, but that's Zach's fault.

However they eventually become friends and while both are attracted, Caleb is kind of clueless when someone is flirting, and Zach doesn't want to mess with a neighbor. Both believe they suck at relationships for different reasons. But eventually they start hanging out and Caleb bakes for Zach and Zach cooks dinner for Caleb and they are boyfriends in all but the obvious. However a drunken night at the bar and hit of jealousy on Caleb's part finally moves them forward. Zach also steps up and helps Caleb figure out how he could make his dream come true.

So it's just very cute. I thought Caleb was funny and there are some tender moments when Caleb talks about losing his dad and while he helped his mom and brother, there was never a sense that he HAD to, in fact his mom tried to tell him not to. You get to meet Zach's friends in the building (future books) and you hear about lots of yummy desserts. So on the whole, it was just a light easy reading book, but I liked both guys so much I wanted to see them finally figure out their issues and be happy. If you are big on angst and drama, this won't be for you. But it was a nice Sunday read for me. Oh yeah, Lady the cute cat is also a plus.
Profile Image for Hundred Acre.
1,030 reviews21 followers
October 12, 2023
Caleb is a little bit accident prone, or maybe that should be clumsy. Mostly when he gets nervous but there is one thing that helps him like nothing else, at least for now. Baking. He loves to bake. It started when he was small and he baked every sunday with his father. His dream is to open his own bakery but he is quite certain that will never happen. He needs his accountant job, boring as it is, to support his mother and brother.

Zack has just moved into his new apartment, next door to Caleb. With his friend Eric helping (and teasing him with old memories of their college days) he is settling in and unpacking reasonably quickly. Things are going well, then the neighbour comes round with a plate of the best cookies he has ever tasted and as someone who works in the food industry that is saying something. So, things are looking up. That is until work on Monday morning when he finds he has a new boss and has been taken off the project he had been working so hard on.

Both Caleb and Zack are feeling dejected but they both know there is now a new light in their lives. One another. For Caleb and Zack are neighbours. They are both interested in the other and though Caleb is far too nervous to do anything about it Zack isn't. There are some hilarious misunderstandings, a beautiful cat who I wanted to reach in and cuddle for myself, plenty of cookies, cakes and yummy dinners and some seriously sexy times.

This story has everything and truly did leave me grinning like a Cheshire Cat! It made me feel all warm and happy too and I know this one is a keeper, let's hope Caleb and Zack decide that too so we can go back to Corio Heights for more stories.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
768 reviews7 followers
October 22, 2023
Caleb is a young man who loves baking, an accountant who hates his job, a man who doesn’t recognize when someone flirts with him or knows how to flirt, and a son who lost his father at a young age so is afraid of taking a chance on a relationship with someone for fear they will leave.
Zack is Caleb’s new neighbor, owner of Lady the cat, a man who loves to cook, a restaurant consultant who loves his job, and a man estranged from his family who doesn’t do relationships because he doesn’t believe anyone could love him since his family didn’t.
When the two meet, they notice attractive things about each other, but aren’t into relationships, so friends it is, all started over a plate of Caleb’s white chocolate macadamia nut cookies. The more time they spend together and learn about each other, the more the attraction grows, but things are really awkward when thinking of more, since neither has a clue about how to get into a relationship or what it really means.
As the two share their hopes and dreams for the future, Caleb to have his own bakery and Zack his own consulting firm, spend time together and with friends, and support each other, they work toward that elusive thing called a relationship and a belief that another won’t leave and it is possible to be loved.
Great relatable characters working through issues from their youth, great friends to support them, yummy food and desserts, a welcoming family, and a satisfying friends to lovers tale for a rainy afternoon.
4.5 stars.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
768 reviews1 follower
October 18, 2021
Who doesn't love an adorable cat named Lady? Lady comes into Zack's life at the perfect moment when he was at his lowest. Inspire of his parents being distant, unloving and eventually throwing him out of their lives, Zach has a great job and loves helping area restaurants become even better. Caleb works as an accountant, hates his job, is a wonderful baker on the side and has a great group of friends who have been there for each other for years. When Zach moves into Caleb's building, Caleb takes him some homemade welcome to the building cookies. It is love at first taste, well for the cookies anyway, but it isn't long before both are spending all of their extra time together.

I really enjoyed how each character was written. It was so natural and I loved them. I certainly wish I knew Caleb personally so I could get some of his desserts for myself! Caleb would do anything for his family and the love they had for each other was apparent too. I wasn't sure about how Zach's boss and his odd behavior came into the story, but maybe that will be answered in another book. All in all, I really enjoyed The New Neighbor and look forward to seeing if Ian and Scott become a couple, or who Eric winds up with, and will Will and Jason get their act together finally? Enjoy!

I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Mary Ellen.
570 reviews59 followers
February 9, 2022
Oh my goodness this story was so sweet. There were lots of adorable blushing and cute interactions between these two. Caleb is a shy cinnamon roll who loves to bake. He used to dream of having a bakery but those dreams seemed to have fizzled away until he meets Zack. Meanwhile confident and attractive Zack moves in next door with his lovely cat Lady and brings a new sense of joy and humor into Caleb's life.

These two are instantly attracted to each other but start off developing a friendship first. The relationship was a natural slow burn, that will have you yearning and rooting for these two to get together. When they do, they are seriously relationship goals.

Even though this is Rye Cox's debut novel I originally started book 2 first. So it was a lot of fun to see how Scott and Ian meet!!! In this book we also get to meet the MCs of what I assume is book 3, and omg I can't wait for their love story.

I have to admit that the grand gesture at the end of this book had me smiling SOOOO hard!! I was giddy with excitement and loved watching these two get their happily ever after. Also, this might seem random but the grand gesture also felt realistic!! It was believable and had me wishing for ALL the characters in ALL the books get this type of love. =p
Profile Image for Marian..
691 reviews36 followers
October 25, 2023
⭐ 3.5

Oh, this book was a delight (literally).

These two have a somewhat funny but lovely start, the story seemed short to me but at the same time perfect for this pair of lovers because you see how despite having feelings, a sincere friendship begins to grow and that for me was the point of the whole book, and of course seeing Zack realize his dream and that Caleb is by his side was very nice to read.

A super fast, light story with very sweet characters (both main and side).

Of course they left me wanting more so I’m going to read the next ones in this series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

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Oh este libro fue una dulzura (literalmente).

Estos dos tienen un comienzo un tanto divertido pero encantador, la historia se me hizo corta pero a la vez perfecta para este par de enamorados porque vez como a pesar de que tienen sentimientos empieza a crecer una amistad sincera y eso para mi fue el punto de todo el libro, y claro ver a Zack realizar su sueño y que Caleb este a su lado fue muy lindo de leer.

Una historia super rápida, ligera y con personajes muy dulces (tanto principales como secundarios). Claro que me dejaron con ganas de mas así que me iré a leer los siguientes de esta serie.
Profile Image for Sheena.
605 reviews11 followers
September 20, 2021
Well, this was an unexpected pleasure. This is yet another new author to me, I love trying new things and if it's a pleasant surprise, then all the better.

I wasn't so sure going in, I thought this was yet another 'falling for the new hot neighbour' trope, but it's actually a sweet, slow burn friends-to-lovers story and not what I was expecting at all (in a good way).

I love how adorkable (yes it's a word) Caleb is when he goes to meet Zack when he moves in. To be fair, Zack isn't much better and it was a lovely meet cute. I will confess to getting a little bit lost with who was who with all the friends, that's probably more on me than on the writer though.

I'd also like to know what the deal was with Zack's new boss, that was a thread that was left hanging, perhaps to be resolved in a future story? I really liked the slow burn of Zack and Caleb's relationship and loved seeing their friendship develop first before they got together. Too many stories are insta-love or insta-lust (which is also fine!) but this was a really nice change of pace and if there are going to be more, then I'm there for it.

I received an ARC from GRR and this was my honest review.
Profile Image for Amos24601.
1,211 reviews40 followers
September 12, 2021
What a sweet book! Zack and Caleb were just full of swoony goodness.

Zack and Caleb meet when Zack moves in next door and the sparks fly. They develop a friendship and we get to see the evolution and progression of the friendship over the course of several weeks. During this time there are lots of home cooked dinners, movie watching and baked goodies. Neither want to jeopardize the friendship by taking the leap to romance. Once they do, however? So much yum.

We get introduced to a whole host of side characters throughout the book and they are all so endearing. They will be MCs in future books in the series.

This book would definitely go on the slow burn list, as we don’t get much romantic action until around the 70% mark. However, the tension between the two make it well worth the wait. Zach’s grand gesture at the end of the book with give you all the feels. There is no angst between the MCs and it’s just a delightful read.

*I was given an ARC of this book for an honest review.
408 reviews4 followers
September 16, 2021
The New Neighbor by Rye Cox was a sweet “hello neighbor” love story that I really enjoyed! Caleb first meets Zach during a quick “Meet-Cute” where he delivers a plate of sweet goodies to the new person next door. There is instant chemistry and feelings between the two men, but I would consider this a type of slow burn story. Neither Caleb or Zack is looking for a relationship, for different reasons. However, they both fall into a quick pattern of “dating/not-dating” . Outside forces bring them to a point where they have to come to a decision about where they are going and what they want from each other. I really enjoyed how supportive of Caleb Zach was in trying to help him reach his dreams. This was a really well written, fun story and the first in a new Corio Heights Series by the author. I loved the side characters as well and can’t wait to see if some hints of things to come are brought out fully in the next books in the series. This was the first book by this author I have read and definitely plan to pick up more!
Profile Image for Lady Macbeth.
577 reviews15 followers
December 1, 2022
3.75 stars
Sweet story with very low angst between Caleb, an accountant with the passion for baking, and Zack, a restaurant consultant. They become friends when Zack moves in Caleb's building and spend all their free time together.
They are both unsure and have issues because of their past relationship, but eventually they find a way to be together.
I appreciate that

I was disappointed about Zack's boss: I don't understand his role in the novel, why start building the drama around this character and then make him disappear completely?

I was disappointed about the prequel too (a freebie, link available at the end of the book): why telling us that Caleb had when they totally forgot about that? I understand Zack was drunk, but how on earth Caleb forgot Zack (especially his eyes) after sharing such a big moment with him?

I'm sorry for potential grammar mistakes, I'm not a native english speaker.
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