the neighbor favor

by Kristina Forest · 2023

Lily Greene has always felt like the quiet one in a family that celebrates Black excellence. Stuck in a nonfiction role while dreaming of editing children’s books, she escapes into email exchanges with a mysterious fantasy author who seems to understand her heart. When he suddenly disappears, Lily is left heartbroken and determined to take control of her life—starting with finding a date for her sister’s wedding. Enter Nick Brown, the handsome new neighbor who offers to help, unaware that he’s the very writer Lily has been falling for behind a pen name. As Nick discovers the shy, book‑loving girl from down the hall is his secret correspondent, both must confront the walls they’ve built and decide whether love can bridge the gap between fantasy and reality.