The Boy Next Door

I was very leery about this book - I m not into teenager stuff, and was aware that there is NO narrative or dialogue whatsoever. The whole thing is a series of emails mostly around an office. It’s brilliant! Hard to imagine that you can portray characters and tell a Love story this way, but she does. And she does it wonderfully! And funny!!! I had to stop several times because I was laughing so hard. Don’t be deceived by the title as I almost was.

Even though I am 13 I loved the book so much and I wish that every other person could read it to.

THE BOY NEXT DOOR by Meggin CabotNow THIS was a fun book! Told in email format, we are introduced to Melissa Fuller, a young woman who works for a newspaper called the NEW YORK JOURNAL, is always late getting in to work, and in the opening chapter she is late once again, but with a good excuse! Her neighbor was apparently knocked out cold by a would-be burglar, so Mel decides she needs to take care of the poor animals that were left behind while Mrs. Friedlander is being taken to the hospital (she is in a coma). This sounds like a somewhat serious plot, but it's not. The book is one big gossip mill, with fellow employees and friends discussing Mel's problems, and as the book progresses, her adventures with "The Boy Next Door", John Trent, who she thinks is really Mrs. Friedlander's playboy nephew Max Friedlander.Unfortunately (or fortunately), the two meet and fall in love. That is, John and Mel meet. But throughout their relationship, Mel thinks he's Max, as does everyone else, because no one has met the real Max, except for one of Mel's coworker's Dolly, and Dolly seems to miss out on the group gatherings where John (Max) are involved. The REAL Max is vacationing somewhere in the Keys with Victoria's Secret model VIVICA (who also gets into the act and starts writing emails from Max's computer, of course using ALL CAPS, not knowing about email etiquette).I haven't laughed this hard while reading a book in ages! The plot itself was funny and twisted, but the email format makes the story that much more funny. For those of you in the working world and familiar with emails from co-workers, Human Resources and bosses, this book is for you! This is chicklit at it's finest but I don't think it should be relegated to just "chicks". This reader gives THE BOY NEXT DOOR 5 stars!

Melissa Fuller has managed to rack up dozens of tardies, but this time, her excuse is a really good one, albeit unique. She has discovered her elderly neighbor lying comatose, the apparent survivor of the city's current serial killer, the transvestite killer. Mel now feels responsible for taking care of the old lady's dog while she lies in the hospital, and walking the giant dog with a pea sized bladder is causing serious complications to her life. With the assistance of well meaning friends, she tracks down the woman's one living relative, Max, a nephew, and contacts him to come help with the dog, and see his dying aunt.Max is, however, a selfish SOB, who had rather complete his vacation with a Victoria's Secret supermodel than come walk a great dane and visit an old, but rich relative. Thus, he calls in a favor and enlists John Trent to impersonate him so that should his aunt awaken, she won't think him the uncaring cad he really is. Reluctantly, John agrees, and immediately finds himself falling for Mel. The attraction is mutual, but the matter of his deception lies between them. What will happen should Mel find out that "Max" is John? ***** In this hilarious tale told via email messages, Ms. Cabot has created a GRIFFIN AND SABINE for the new generation. We get to see all sides of the story as Mel and John's friends and families communicate their varied opinions of the whole situation. From Mel's newly emailing parents, to her catty coworker who has inherited her exboyfriend, to the supermodel Max is dating, we are charmed by the situation that is so unbelieveable that it could be real. If this were a movie, Meg Ryan and Hugh Grant would be the ideal stars.

I am a long time fan of Meggin Cabot. The Princess Diaries series and her romance novels written as Patricia Cabot have all been wonderful. Her first contemporary adult novel was no disappointment.First and foremost the all e-mail message format is fun and different. This format coupled with endearing characters and a screwball comedy plot makes this a great read.Mell Fuller is a fun heroine. Interesting and strong but not perfect. The collection of her co-workers, family members, and friends who populate this book make it memorable.

Mel (Melissa) Fuller is a gossip columnist for The NY Journal. She is also late for work. Again. Which marks the fact that she has been late for work 37 times this year, exceeding 20 minutes. So now she has received an e-mail from the Human Resources division telling her that she is eligible to participate in the Staff Assistance Program. The only annoying thing is the fact that she has a great excuse this time. And it's not made-up. Mel found her 80-year-old neighbor lying face down in her apartment, and apparently she was struck by an intruder. Had it not been for Mel she could have died. But now she has the responsibility of taking care of her neighbors dog until the police find her only living relative. Not only that, Mel has just broken up with her boyfriend Aaron for finding out about his cheating on her, and she can't seem to get the chance to write an important editorial, because her boss is a jerk. I mean, how long can you write gossip about celebrities for Page Ten?This is a hilarious book, much along the lines of "Bridget Jones's Diary" and an adult "Princess Diaries." Meggin Cabot has shown, yet again, that she can succeed in any genre of writing. A must read for everyone.