The Boy Next Door [Paperback]

Josie Lloyd (Author), Emlyn Rees (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 7, 2002

When they were young, Fred and Mickey thought that nothing could tear them apart. They were wrong.

Now, Mickey is a single mother, and Fred is on the verge of getting married. But when they see each other for the first time in fifteen years, they'll discover what happens when true love hits close to home.

"Frothy, romantic." (Daily Mail, London)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for Josie Lloyd and Emlyn Rees:

“Brilliantly written and wittily observed.” –Express

“Vivid and funny.” –The Times


From the Hardcover edition. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

From the Inside Flap

Warm, funny and sad, this is a story about growing up, and learning you?re never too old to be a kid ? from the authors of Come Together and Come Again.

It?s the 1980s in the sleepy English village of Rushton, and Mickey Maloney and Fred are neighbours and best friends. They?re convinced that nothing will ever keep them apart. But they?re wrong. Fifteen years later, Mickey is trying to build a secure life with her young son, Joe. Meanwhile, Fred is about to marry in a few short weeks when he bumps into Mickey for the first time since their worlds fell apart. But as they pick up the threads of their friendship and relive the glory days of growing up in Rushton, can they overcome the devastating events that once tore them apart? And is it true what they say about first loves being forever? --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Berkley (May 7, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425184498
• ISBN-13: 978-0425184493
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,433,281 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The He Said / She Said Team Is Back, June 3, 2003

By 

Caroline P. Hampton (Columbus, Ohio USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Boy Next Door (Paperback)

Without a doubt - Josie Lloyd and Emlyn Rees know how to do the "HE SAID / SHE SAID" thing. They hit a home run with "Come Together" and "Come Again" - and without a doubt .... "The Boy Next Door" is a good follow-up to their major success. True - it's not better than their previous work (that would take a lot) but it's a really nice try.

This childhood love story of Mickey and Fred is really sweet and refreshing. Mickey and Fred grew up next to each other and experienced all their first together. They thought nothing would ever bring them apart. Well ---- cut to 15 years later and they aren't even "friends" anymore. Of course - circumstances bring them back together and that's when the fun starts. This is a warm and charming love story that really lets you into the minds of both main characters, and you have the good fortune to have them written by each member of the opposite sex.

Nice follow-up effort for these two great and talented writers. Cheers!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Husband and Wife Team, May 15, 2002

By 

Amy Leemon (North Fond du Lac, WI) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Boy Next Door (Paperback)

Mickey is divorced, has a young son and runs a flower shop. Fred is getting married soon.

But fate throws them together and everything changes.

Up to their mid-teens, Mickey and Fred lived next door to each other. They were the best of friends - knew everything about each other. They were getting closer every day and knew their lives would be spent together.

But all that changed when with no warning, Fred and his mother disappeared and Mickey was left without a word.

Written by a husband and wife and told in alternating chapters, this is a good book on friendship, love and second chances.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Insightful He thinks, She thinks story line, May 11, 2002

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Boy Next Door (Paperback)

Growing up, as next door neighbors in early 1980s Rushton, England, Mickey and Fred were best friends doing everything together sort of Siamese twins. They expected their friendship to go years beyond their first cigarette and kiss to their last dying breath. However, the death of his father intercedes and the duo is separated as Fred and his family moves away.

Fifteen years later both are ignorant that the other also resides in London. The divorced Mickey raises a son by herself while managing a flower shop. Fred is a marketing manager for an Internet news site. He is engaged, but keeps asking "is that all there is"? That is until he accidentally runs into Mickey. With his wedding one month away, Fred wonders if he loves Mickey or just nostalgic over seeing his best bud from the happiest period in his life?

THE BOY NEXT DOOR uses the technique of alternating first person perspectives (between Fred and Mickey) that Josie Lloyd and Emlyn Rees are so adept at making work. The "He thinks, She thinks" story line focuses on the angst of the understandable lead characters with flashbacks to their idyllic childhood and the abrupt end of their personal Eden. Though his fiancee Rebecca is not much of a rival as she is too selfish to matter to Fred or readers, this novel will motivate readers to seek previous books from this dynamic duo (COME TOGETHER) while wondering what Josie wrote and what Emlyn wrote.

Harriet Klausner