The Aussie next door

London's (Bad Bachelor) latest contemporary romance includes plenty of familiar tropes, such as the girl next door, silly misunderstandings, and an interfering family, plus some unique elements that add up to a thoughtful story. Angie, raised in horrific conditions in foster care, unwillingly became famous for having endured abuse, and escaped to Australia in an attempt to avoid those painful memories. She moves next door to Jace, a happily solitary cartoonist, who has autism and a large, loving family. When Angie discovers her soon-to-expire visa has been denied for renewal, she sets her sights on marrying so she can stay, and Jace agrees to help her find Mr. Right. From there, events proceed as can be expected in a romance, culminating with the happy ever after. Narrator Summer Morton does an excellent Australian accent, although distinguishing which character is speaking can be difficult at times. VERDICT Recommend where contemporary romances by Victoria James and Jill Shalvis are popular.--Donna Bachowski, Grand Island, FL

In USA Today-bestselling author London's (How to Lose a Fianc, 2019, etc.) latest romantic comedy, a hidebound Australian cartoonist and his American tenant find love.AustralianJace Walters is a creature of habit. He eats plain porridge for breakfast every day after surfing at the beach and has gained a following for hiscomic strip series about a hermit. His mother understands his autism spectrum diagnosis, but she also feels that he needs to leave his comfort zone; as a result, Jace finds himself saddled with temporary custody of a family friend's two dogs. Meanwhile, American Angie Donovan learns that her Australian visa is expiring in just two months. She feels at home Down Under; she has money from a lawsuit settlement to live on, and loves her volunteer position in a nursing home. One possible solution remains: She can get married to an Australian citizen. However, she had a lonely, traumatic childhood, so she doesn't want a cold, paper marriageshe wants to fall in love, even if she only has two months to do so. Angie enlists Jace to help her find romantic prospects; soon, sparks fly between them and they begin a passionate sexual relationship, punctuated by picnics by the ocean and 1990s romantic-comedy movie marathons. After Jace proposes, however, their bond begins to crack: Can spontaneous Angie live with Jace's dependence on routine, and can he learn to compromise for the woman he loves? Over the course of this book, London shows that she truly excels at character development; she makes sure that even relatively minor players, such as Angie's yoga teacher, Chloe Lee, and Jace's flirtatious brother, Trent, are fully fleshed out. The realistic yet witty dialogue jumps off of the page, and the two dogs in Jace's care are lovable and endearing, even when they misbehave. Jace's high-functioning autism is never treated in a stereotypical manner; instead, it's portrayed as something that the character realistically struggles with. The main characters have sizzling chemistry together, and they face believable hurdles on the way to the inevitable happily-ever-after.A sweet, sexy read, featuring a couple that feels both true-to-life and aspirational. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.