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gmamartha's review against another edition
3.0
Realistic feel to this story, including the old best friend with the new one at camp. 10-year-old girls' swirls of feeling influence everything, but the shared cat saves the day more than once.
christiana's review against another edition
3.0
This was cute and it'll definitely have an audience. There is not a lot of books out there just about friendship or best friendship that aren't a little lame (sorry, it's true). This one is one of those not lame books about friendship and best friendship! Also, Emme has two moms and NOBODY CARES. I love it.
lana_e's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy
n_avya24's review against another edition
It’s been what…around 6 years since I read this? weird
jillcd's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. Palindromes, friendship, pizza, and change: a cute book that encompasses all the above and more. A quick-fun read.
chalkletters's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
Best Friend Next Door is one of those books I don’t remember acquiring. For me, this happens more with e-books than with physical editions. My e-reader (Wendy) hosts a variety of titles that I picked up at some point and which I have no clear memory of. Among those, several are by Carolyn Mackler. While I’ve enjoyed some things she’s written, the number of titles is a perplexing, which is why I decided I’d better start reading & reviewing them so that I can move on to other authors.
The other Carolyn Mackler books that I’ve read have all been Young Adult titles. I was curious how she’d handle younger characters. I found Hannah and Emme and all their similarities to be a little grating, so was quite pleased when part of the conflict was over them coming to like different things. This wasn’t delved into in any great depth, but it still felt realistic and interesting.
As a person with a history of being the friend who moves away, I felt for Sophie, especially as she seemed to completely disappear from the middle of the novel. Of course, as soon as I’d articulated that thought to myself, Carolyn Mackler brought her back and tied her neatly into the plot. She didn’t have as much of a personality as the main characters, but I was glad that she hadn’t been forgotten entirely.
Best Friend Next Door was pleasant, but it didn’t grab me. That may be partly to do with not being the target audience, and having no history of reading this book when I was, but I think it also has to do with not gravitating towards these types of characters or these types of stories. I’m not sure I would have felt any more strongly for this book as a child than I do now.
Content Warnings
Minor: Bullying and Pregnancy
mrskatiefitz's review against another edition
3.0
When Hannah's best friend Sophie moves away, and Emme and her moms move into Sophie's old house, Hannah is a little uncertain about making friends. Soon, though, she and Emme realize they have many things in common, including their palindromic first names, their taste in clothing, a hatred for pizza, and a love for competitive swimming. As Emme acclimates to her new home and Hannah tries to get used to the idea that her stepmom is soon to have a baby, the two girls live through the typical ups and downs of tween friendship.
Best Friend Next Door is written in a straightforward style that makes it a quick and easy read. Chapters alternate between the two girls' points of view so the reader gets to know both characters well, and conflicts that arise are seen from both sides. Some threads of the story feel forced - mainly the health condition of the girls' shared cat, and the appearance of Sophie late in the story and the resulting "three's a crowd" jealousy - but for the most part the development of the girls' friendship feels very real and natural, as does the involvement of their very present and refreshingly non-dysfunctional parents.
Carolyn Mackler has traditionally been more of a YA author, but this book is geared toward the lower end of the middle grade audience, probably grades 3 to 5. It will appeal especially to kids who are not yet interested in romance and dating, and who themselves have had a best friend. Read-alikes include the Friends for Keeps series by Julie Bowe and the Allie Finkle series by Meg Cabot.
Best Friend Next Door is written in a straightforward style that makes it a quick and easy read. Chapters alternate between the two girls' points of view so the reader gets to know both characters well, and conflicts that arise are seen from both sides. Some threads of the story feel forced - mainly the health condition of the girls' shared cat, and the appearance of Sophie late in the story and the resulting "three's a crowd" jealousy - but for the most part the development of the girls' friendship feels very real and natural, as does the involvement of their very present and refreshingly non-dysfunctional parents.
Carolyn Mackler has traditionally been more of a YA author, but this book is geared toward the lower end of the middle grade audience, probably grades 3 to 5. It will appeal especially to kids who are not yet interested in romance and dating, and who themselves have had a best friend. Read-alikes include the Friends for Keeps series by Julie Bowe and the Allie Finkle series by Meg Cabot.
christiana's review
3.0
This was cute and it'll definitely have an audience. There is not a lot of books out there just about friendship or best friendship that aren't a little lame (sorry, it's true). This one is one of those not lame books about friendship and best friendship! Also, Emme has two moms and NOBODY CARES. I love it.
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