I started this book not really sure what to expect. I'm not a fan of stories where the characters have other love interests at any point during the story, so...I was skeptical. But, what a pleasant surprise this turned out to be.
From the publisher's summary:
"The first night after Caroline moves into her fantastic new San Francisco apartment, she realizes she's gaining an intimate knowledge of her new neighbor's nocturnal adventures. Thanks to paper-thin walls and the guy's athletic prowess, she can hear not just his bed banging against the wall but the ecstatic response of what seems (as loud night after loud night goes by) like an endless parade of women. And since Caroline is currently on a self-imposed dating hiatus, and her neighbor is clearly lethally attractive to women, she finds her fantasies keep her awake even longer than the noise. So when the wallbanging threatens to literally bounce her out of bed, Caroline, clad in sexual frustration and a pink baby-doll nightie, confronts Simon Parker, her heard-but-never-seen neighbor. The tension between them is as thick as the walls are thin, and the results just as mixed. Suddenly, Caroline is finding she may have discovered a whole new definition of neighborly...
In a delicious mix of silly and steamy, Alice Clayton dishes out a hot and hilarious tale of exasperation at first sight.."
Simon and Caroline's initial interactions are delightful. Simon has a little "Harem" in and out of his apartment several nights a week. They tend to keep Caroline up all night. She even nicknames them based on the sounds they make when the come! Simon calls Caroline, AKA Nightie Girl a cock blocker and she calls him simply "Wallbanger". It turns out that they have some very close friends in common and because of that, their neighborly dispute quickly turns into fodder for their friends and ultimately forms the basis of a surprising and real friendship. As they start spending time together, their friendly feelings give way to the physical attraction they feel for each other. And this sexy romp turns into a sweet romance that makes you feel warm inside.
This is my first Alice Clayton story. I found her writing to be hilarious. The use of text messages was an awesome plot device and really relevant to the way people communicate today. The cast of supporting characters were hilarious and although they were all a tab bit cliched, they definitely added a great fill to the story. Her cat Clive, stole the show and made for some of the funniest scenes in the story.
Simon the Wallbanger turns out to be a really sweet guy who respects and values his relationship with Caroline.
I liked how modern this story is. Most adults are "involved" at some level at all times. Whether you are married, engaged, seriously dating, casually dating or just bumping uglies, it's unlikely that when you meet Mr. Right you are completely free of entanglements. The way Simon and Caroline (although Caroline to a lesser degree) manage to disentangle themselves is handled very well. I have not a single complaint about this story other than I wish it was a stand alone with a great epilogue. There are two more Simon and Caroline books in this series. I don't plan on reading them .Now that they are together, I am not interested in going through two books of ups and downs just to have them end up in the same place they are at the end of the first book. But, the other two books (Rusty Nailed and Screwdrivered have good reviews, so I am not discouraging you from reading them. I am just not into making a series just for the sake of it. There was no cliff hanger, and in my mind their relationship status is set. So for me, this is the end of Caroline and Simon.
If you are looking for a light, quick but smart read- this is the ticket!
