That Woman Next Door

By: Harper Bliss

Narrated by: Abby Craden

Length: 7 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

Sometimes what you’re running from is exactly what you need.

Olivia Chevalier is perfectly happy living a quiet life of solitude with her two cats in the tempestuous countryside of Brittany. Olivia’s peace is disrupted when heart-breaker extraordinaire Marie Dievart moves in to the holiday home next door after an event at work makes her flee her everyday life.

Olivia hates having a neighbor and Marie is put off by Olivia’s cranky ways. But maybe these two women have more in common than they first believe.

Best-selling lesbian romance author Harper Bliss brings you a slow-burn opposites-attract story about the power of connection and opening yourself up to the possibility of love.

©2021 Harper Bliss (P)2021 Harper Bliss

It was worth waiting for this book

There are so many aspects to this book, the introvert Olivia and the outgoing very smug Marie, the 44 YO Olivia and the 56 YO Marie, the small countryside living Olivia and the metro piling living Marie… I don’t want to give you the whole story here so I would say. Whatever you do, get this book,
And last but not least: AC is wonderful, and I know it is not surprising, but I had to say it. :)

Don’t waste the credit… 😒

Very disappointing story line, and honestly the first narration by Abby Craden I didn’t care for either.

i live for this book, it is everything. <3

Olivia Chevalier (44): An awkward, introverted, woman living alone in the countryside of brittany with her two cats. Spending her time on her treadmill, reading, writing poetry, playing piano, and translating novels into french.

Marie Dievart (56): Charming, confident, slightly arrogant, womanizer, neurosurgeon (from a family of surgeons), trying to look into herself by hiding away in her family’s summer home (though it’s winter time). She is thrown for a loop by her job and her antisocial holiday neighbor. (Marie could turn me into a blushing puddle in seconds)

Both are like no one they’ve ever met, bringing on a new side of themselves along with self reflection/introspection. All while remaining true to their personalities. Their differences and chemistry makes me so very giddy.

Love love love Abby Craden as always, her performance was sublime, I like the occasional french accent with names/locations. I’m starting to love Harper Bliss as well. One of my favorite parts about books is accessing someone’s inner monologue, and we get both point of views of our main characters.

please read/listen to this absolute gem!!!

a real love story

it's hard to find a good lesbian romance. it's even harder to find one about older women. I loved how the author didn't push the characters into a romance but kept true to their character. But before I say anymore, spoilers...

I. LOVED. THIS. AUDIOBOOK.

Harper Bliss never ceases to amaze me. When she digs deep to create a character, the result is incredible.
What a treasure to have a character like Olivia Chevalier in lesfic! Or anywhere, really. She is an introvert and almost reclusive. Not entirely - she can go out, but much prefers staying close to home. And when she does go out or has people in, she needs considerable alone time to replenish. She lets very few people into her heart and personal space. She's not a bad person - it's just who she is and she's refreshingly unapologetic about that.
When extroverted, vivacious Marie Dievart comes knocking from her family's holiday home next door, Olivia is not happy. Marie needed time away from her work as a successful neurosurgeon and plans to stay for an extended period. When Olivia discovers the woman is a lesbian, she still refuses to allow the refined, successful, hot as hell woman into her very ordered world. But Marie can't stand being alone even though Olivia doesn't seem to want her around. She's used to picking up women for sex and nothing more. She rarely sleeps with anyone more than once and has no time for a commitment. So why won't that infuriating woman just blow off some steam with her? Surely she must be lonely.
I really appreciate how this story evolves. Full disclosure - I haven't read the French Kissing books where Marie is introduced and didn't need to because this is a stand-alone. Harper gives enough detail about her that you know what her patterns have been in the past.
This is way up there as one of my favorites of Harper's and that's saying a lot, considering how much wonderful work she's produced through the years. There's so much I could and would love to say about it but I don't want to spoil anyone's journey. This would be a great book for discussion!
For me, Abby Craden was the perfect voice actor to do this book. When you need vulnerability and longing, you just can't do better than her. It's important to note, however, that she doesn't attempt their accents. When they speak French, she uses the proper pronunciation (to my non-native ears) but otherwise she speaks in American English using tones she created for the characters. I think it's wiser to go that route rather than butcher them. But she beautifully captures their essence. I don't know how native speakers feel about that, though.
Harper is doing some of her best, most moving work in these last few years and I am absolutely here for it!

Great Narrator

Abby Craden was perfect as always but this book was difficult. I can’t stand Marie at all and Olivia caused me anxiety as I read about her need to remain a recluse of sorts. But somehow, I love how different this book was. There was no grand over the top love exchange. This book was so matter of fact and so much closer to what a relationship might be like. And the age of the MCs gives hope to love. It’s a reminder that despite everything all hope for romance is not gone.

Not the usual

This novel did not grab me as much as some prior Harper Bliss novels. I agree that it was very introspective, but it still did not leave me with a lasting impression of the characters, or an emotional attachment to either of them. I may have had a chuckle or two, but it certainly wasn’t overwhelmingly funny, and it did not bring me to tears at any point. On the other hand Abby Craden’s performance was stellar. If I hadn’t gotten this on audiobook, I may have stopped reading well before the end. My suggestion would be to try some of Harbor Bliss’s earlier stand alone works first.

Difficult Women

Ha! As if all women weren’t a little bit difficult…
I didn’t like about the first 3/4 of this book because it was so obvious that these 2 women were completely incompatible. But, I knew that the always satisfying team of Bliss/Craden world navigate a smooth and believable transition. So, I stuck with it and wasn’t disappointed, but a little surprised… Even though one of the MCs was described as an immovable object, I did expect a slightly different outcome. And by slightly I mean completely. The authors note at the end added a very nice touch, that’s why, at this point, I probably read at least 7 of her books, and intend to read the rest.

Romantic HEA

I loved seeing someone tame Marie Divart, of French Kissing fame! This audiobook completely captured my attention and I loved every second.
NOTE TO AUDIBLE—I bought this as a deal of the day and it was the first lesbian fiction I’ve seen offered. PLEASE offer more. Thank you!

Exceptional read.

Personal insight, growth, love, lust self-awareness and plenty of dry humor makes this more than just a great read.

loved it

I really enjoyed this so much... the characters were a joy for me to get to know and experience

yet again a most wonderful story from Harper and Abby as usual... you have done it again...x

Solid Story

I have been a fan of Harper Bliss for many years now.
This story captured and held my interest throughout. Both MC's were relatedly human in a positive way.
If you have read the French Kissing series, you know that the character of Marie was an antagonist to some of the characters in that series.
Harper redeemed her in this book in a very believable way.

Bliss Magic

Harper does it again. Another wlw novel, that touches on area's that makes the reader think. Olivia is a tortured sole, who lived her life without interruption. How can that change? Read or listen on...can she be swayed? Abby Craden gives this novel, the extra seduction, that it doesn't need....!

Perfection

Excellent story, gorgeous narration, intense and intimate, and sexy as hell. With added cute French kitties. Loved it. 😊

Amazing 👌

Mrs Harper Bliss u are simply amazing!! What a book! wow I smiled, laughed and cried…every emotion drawn from me from beginning to end and that is how I know I’ve found a special book a true gem for my favourites collection so thanks 🙏

In addition, and a point I have to make.. the narration was never going to be an issue Abbey Craden is so great at what she does it’s a winning combo to use her narrate a great story this was so perfectly perfect my senses did a happy dance ☺️

It’s 100% recommend from me on this one😘

Abby Craden is sublime

Having previously read the book and thoroughly enjoyed it I couldn’t wait for the audio. Abby Craden does not disappoint. Altogether glorious. She always manages to perfectly capture the characters authors such as Harper, Ej Noyes and Gerri Hill, create. Transported to the French countryside, go lose yourself in these stubborn yet entirely loveable characters.