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The Other Guy

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I'm The Other Guy.

No, it's not what you're thinking so calm down. And yes, I just dared to say the words "calm down".

He's the guy your mama warned you about.

I just so happened to be his number neighbor.

Yeah, you read that right.

I'm the Textdoor Neighbor to the guy having one-night stands with seemingly the entire town.

And I'm the lucky one who gets to "break up" with his not-so-lucky conquests.

Turns out, breaking up with most of them wasn't as hard as I'd expected it to be.

Until she came along.

I was content living my boring life, running a boxing gym, and going home to an empty house.

She made me realize that maybe being content isn't enough.

I'm Jack Cole.

And this is the story about how I became... the other guy.

324 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 26, 2020

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Jennifer Van Wyk

28 books1,405 followers

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5 stars
146 (46%)
4 stars
91 (29%)
3 stars
49 (15%)
2 stars
17 (5%)
1 star
9 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
Profile Image for Paula.
650 reviews16 followers
March 28, 2020
This could have been a nice sweet story but the writing is too immature/cringe-worthy for me and all I could take is 25% in before DNF.

Example:


“How was your first time in the ring?”
“What makes you think that was my first time? I’m an old pro.”
“Okay, okay. You’re right. It was my first. But it was super fun. I could totally see myself getting into it.”
“If you focus, yes.”
“Hey! I can’t help it. I have a lot of energy!”
“So what are you up to the rest of the day?”
“Why? Want me to teach a couple classes?”
“Hell no.”
“Damn. I really thought I had a new career path going for me.”
“Right. Well, let’s think of other ideas, maybe.”
“I was kind of hoping to see what you were up to.”
I look around the room, spinning my finger around slowly. “I kind of thought that was obvious. I’m working?”
“But you own it. Can’t you blow off work for a day and have someone else help people punch each other? I’m bored!”
“I was right. You’re definitely worse than a toddler.”
“When did you say that?”
“I thought it.”
“Oh. Yeah, probably.”
“How old are you, anyway?”
“Why?”
“Curious.”
She smiles. “I knew you liked me. I’m twenty-seven.”
“With the mentality of a seventeen-year-old?”
“Yup. That’s what makes me so fun.”

---

"Oh my gosh, please let me look!”
“What if it’s personal?”
“What? I could have a personal life.”
“Mm hmm. You could but you don’t.”
“How do you know?”
“We established this already last night, Jack. Anyway, let me look! Please, oh please! I’ve been sitting here so good and quiet and never said a single thing while you were freaking out over there after realizing that you think I’m hot stuff and are bummed that I have a boyfriend.”
“You just did.”
“I know but seriously how was I expected to hold that all in? I mean, come on! That took like all of my willpower. Do you realize that? All of it was used up on biting my tongue. Literally biting it!” She sticks it out and then slurs, “Thee? Ith thwollen becathe of you!”
“You could have put your tongue back in your mouth to tell me that.”
She does and then says, “It wouldn’t have been nearly as effective though, now would it?”
“Probably not.”
“So do I get a gold star for holding all my words in?”
“Sure. I’ll even take you for breakfast.”
“I don’t want breakfast. I had pancakes and bacon this morning with Uncle Kyle.” Called it. “And now I’m hungry for ice cream. You promised. Don’t be a liar, Jack. No one likes a liar.”
“Fine. You relentless goober.”

----

"That’s just the start of our Sack Fun Day.”
“Sack?”
“Sierra and Jack. Get it?”


And just in case anyone is interested, it is a story about a nice guy, Jack, who one day receives text phone msgs from some random guy’s nightly conquests who apparently gives Hero’s # to his women and Hero flirts & turns them down nicely (while not being upfront with them that the jerk gave them the wrong #. Apparently this is called Textdoor Neighbour which my so-smart teen nephews educated me that it is indeed a real thing of the person whose telephone number is the same as one's own, but with the final digit increased or decreased by 1; sometimes called as a prank or in an attempt to make friends.

Hero comes across as a nice guy and has good intentions in not hurting the feelings of all those women who texted him, BUT what I didn’t like is the fact that he gets turned on by some of them (especially ones that send nudies) before he meets heroine and that he is playing them in essence just like the jerk they slept with by withholding the truth!

He does however acknowledge his actions and even attempts to fix it. Enter heroine whom he meets in a bar and is instantly attracted. Unfortunately, heroine has a boyfriend that she lives with in the beginning of the story. Eventually she becomes single again and once the relationship with hero spiked up, it was sweet but I couldn't finish based on what I mentioned above about the writing.


Safety: Safe. Hero is not a manho & celibate for a year I think he said. Heroine, while in the beginning has a live in boyfriend, there are no intimate scenes or any scenes at all with said BF other then the breakup. NO OW/OM drama either other then what I just mentioned.
Profile Image for Catherine Cowles.
Author 32 books20.2k followers
Read
March 22, 2020
Heartfelt and hilarious. Jennifer Van Wyk brings all the swoon in The Other Guy. Don't miss this one! It's the perfect escape we all need right now!
Profile Image for AJ.
3,026 reviews1,011 followers
March 25, 2020
4 stars

Another sweet, heartfelt, fun and functional romance from Jennifer Van Wyk! This author is my happy place – I love her stories, I love her writing, and damn, but I love her heroes! I can always be guaranteed an angst-free love story that will leave me with a smile on my face and that’s exactly what I got with this book. I loved it!

This is Jack’s story. Fans of JVW will remember Jack as the son of Carly from A Better Place – an absolute sweetheart as a teenager, and now we get to see him all grown up and melting hearts as an adult. This book can be read as a standalone but beware that it ties in to ALL of JVW’s other standalones and there is character crossover. As a long-time fan, I loved seeing everybody again and enjoyed some fantastic developments and twists in the stories of previous characters. Newbies will most likely be lost trying to figure out how everybody fits together, but the full cast of extended family have little impact on the overall story, so you’ll be fine.

Anyway, this is Jack’s story. Jack is now in his 30s, running his own boxing gym and living a happy life. He doesn’t have much of a social life outside of his family, but he has recently been the recipient of dozens of texts from random women. It seems that Jack’s ‘textdoor neighbor’ (the person with one digit difference in phone numbers) is giving out Jack’s number as his own in an attempt to brush off his one night stands. And, frustratingly, it’s up to Jack to break the news to the these scorned women… occasionally after some entertaining banter and flirting himself.

(Going into this book, I didn’t even realise that ‘Number Neighbors’ were a thing, but apparently it’s a social thing where you make contact with the person with one number up and down from you, as they are your ‘number neighbor’. Consider me educated!)

Things in Jack’s life take a turn when he meets Sierra who, in all of her wild quirkiness, blows into his life like a storm.

Is there a way to be endearingly insane? Apparently so, because she is. In the way that makes people want to be around her. Want to be a little crazy as well. She brings a certain something to life that only people truly confident in themselves can bring. And unless you’re lucky enough to be around her, spend time with her, you’ll never realize it – she – was missing in your own life.

I love Sierra! Smart, sassy and independent, she is a fantastically unique character who says it like it is and who holds nothing back. She’s brave and bold, but she has some vulnerabilities, and she’s an absolute delight in this story from start to finish.

A fast friendship forms which very quickly turns into attraction. There’s the usual longing, flirting and teasing, and it’s all so much fun. Sierra is going through some stuff, so it takes them a little bit to get to a point where they can get romantic, but in builds fantastic sexual tension and chemistry as we watch them dance around each other, and once they get there, holy hot damn, these two are on fire! Sexy and playful, these two are so much fun together, and so much more than just mad lust, and they form a deep connection which is explored really well.

They get to know each other intimately, they have a strong influence on each other’s lives, and they really do complement each other. It’s beautiful to watch, and I loved the lack of game playing and angst as they laid it all out and just followed their hearts.

“This feels…different. And it scares me. I’ve never had this before and I don’t know what it means. But it’s terrifying how--”
“Right it feels?” I answer for her, interrupting her. She nods in agreement.
“Yeah.”

It’s not all smooth sailing, and they have issues they need to address, but they deal and they keep moving forward, and I loved that so much!

As I said, there is quite a bit of character crossover with JVW’s previous books, and I particularly loved James’ involvement. I fell in love with Jack’s step-dad when he was the hero of his own book, and I loved seeing how strong his relationship is with Jack. Family plays a big part in JVW’s books, and she writes it so well. The dynamics are fantastic, and it was gorgeous seeing Sierra with her own family, as well as bring brought into the fold.

I really enjoyed this book. It’s sweet, fun and sexy, and an easy read that left me feeling all fluffy.

4 stars.

An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Profile Image for Shelby.
1,138 reviews707 followers
January 1, 2021
Jack’s story starts a little unconventionally—he starts receiving texts intended for his textdoor neighbor, aka the guy with almost the same exact number as his. It turns out some jerk has been giving Jack’s number to his one night stands and when they text him the next day, Jack can’t help but play along. Partly for the entertainment, but partly so they’re let down easy. Jack’s too busy for dating, running his own boxing gym. But after over 20 women mistakenly text him, he’s had enough.

That’s where Sierra comes in. She’s dealing with a lot in her personal life so she takes a trip to visit her uncle Kyle and she meets Jack in Kyle’s bar. The two hit it off right away and become fast friends. But Sierra’s completely off limits since she has a boyfriend, even though Jack’s wildly attracted to her. So when Sierra and her boyfriend split, her and Jack’s relationship goes from platonic to romantic. And neither of them could expect the love that changes both their lives.

The Other Guy by Jennifer Van Wyk is a friends to lovers romance set in the same small town as many of her other books. I think I had the wrong impression about what this story was about, so when it didn’t meet my expectations, I was disappointed. If you haven’t read her other books, you may feel a little confused by all the side characters (wow, there were a lot). I’ve read 2 of her other stand-alone books and still felt like there were too many characters to keep track of. I recently read another one of JVW’s other friends to lovers romances and I feel almost the exact same about this one. I liked it, but it didn’t wow me. I still want to give JVW one more try before writing off her romances. 3/5 stars.
Profile Image for Kaitie.
1,014 reviews28 followers
March 21, 2020
We all need an escape from reality on a daily basis but now more so then any other time I’ve known. And let me tell you, Ms. Van Wyk is the perfect author to escape with. I may have messaged and freaked out when this bad boy landed on my kindle! And I was SO excited! I feel like I say this every time I write a review for Ms. Van Wyk and I don’t want to take anything away from any of her other books because I love them too. But that being said, her books just get BETTER AND BETTER! Jack and Sierra are no different. And it was so much fun to get a glimpse into one of my favorite fictional towns. I can’t wait to move to Liberty and find my friends! (And that’s saying something because I hate SNOW!) Anyways, I’ve loved Jack since we met him what feels like long ago but really isn’t. He’s a sweet sweet man. And Sierra, she’s so imperfect in a way all girls need her to be. I don’t mean that insultingly, I mean that in that I see myself in Sierra. And I relate so much more with her because of it. You guys, she’s just that amazing! I LOVE this book and I can’t wait from more work by one of my favorite authors out there!
Profile Image for Diane (Books and Tequila Blog).
1,434 reviews66 followers
March 26, 2020
The Other Guy is exactly what the doctor ordered. Escapism tied up with a bow.

Jack receives some texts that are meant for someone else and they really highlight how bored Jack is with his life. The one bright spot is Sierra arriving in town.

This book is full of cute banter. It is a sweet, funny and lighthearted story with a great small town feel.
-4.5 Stars!-
Profile Image for Harlow James.
Author 26 books1,001 followers
June 3, 2020
Even though the premise of the book was a little far-fetched, I LOVED the story within! Sierra was hilarious in an endearing kind of way, and Jack was pure book-boyfriend perfection! My first read by Jennifer, but not my last!
Profile Image for Kari Hansen.
10.2k reviews87 followers
March 28, 2020
Jack is very comfortable with his uneventful life and has no plans to change anything until he starts to receive texts from women he has never met. He puts two and two together and finds out that another man is giving out his number to women he meets so he doesn’t have to see or speak to them again. He has always been able rebuff the women who contact him but there is something about Sierra that is different.

Sierra has reached a crossroads in her life and she must decide if she deserves better for the future rather than past. When she meets Jack they are drawn to each other in a way that they didn’t expect and a friendship develops. The more time they spend together the more fun they have together and the deeper the feelings become and then they must decide if they are meant to be friends or something more.

I really enjoyed both these characters as Sierra is fun and fiery while Jack is enough to make you swoon. This is a slow burning romance that wasn’t without its obstacles but that only makes their journey that much more fulfilling and catching up with the other characters we know and love is always fun.
Profile Image for Inna.
1,557 reviews307 followers
December 27, 2021
2 stars. This book is about 50% too long. There are tons of inconsequential details thrown into the story that made me lose interest. Not sure how I made it to the end, but I did skip a few chapters when I fell asleep during the audiobook.

SWE; heroine is in a relationship with cheating OM when she meets the hero. She didn’t know that OM was cheating on her and still got a little too close to the hero, knowing that he was attracted to her in a non-platonic way. She breaks up with OM as soon as she sees him again though, and finds out he was cheating on her for a while. The hero, who is getting texts from OW, has some longer convos with some of them and enjoys the nudes they send him. Once they get together, they stay together. No scenes with them and OM/OW. No cheating between the MCs. Hero celibate for a while, heroine supposedly hadn’t been intimate with her BF for a while too.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Jessica.
2,972 reviews23 followers
March 17, 2020
James was my favorite! He’s from a prior story. Do you remember him?
This one is about his stepson Jack. His son.
Jack.
Jack is sweet.
Sweet on Sierra.
(Okay that was corny - sorry about that.)
These two meet and become instant friends. And this friendship turns into more once her boyfriend is out of the picture. Audios J.A.! (Sierra is not a cheater - so no worries there.)

I thought this book was a sweet romance story. You’ll enjoy meeting these characters!
I highly recommend it!

This one can be read on its own with no issues.
Profile Image for Bella.
215 reviews9 followers
April 7, 2020
I love picking up a Jennifer Van Wyk book. This book was great. Jack and Sierra has chemistry in spades. Such a great book, read it straight through.
Profile Image for Jill S (Love Affair With Fiction).
646 reviews67 followers
April 26, 2020
If you are a sucker for a small town romances then you need to put Jennifer Van Wyk on your MUST READ list. She nails small town life in every book. She never fails to make me long to live in one of these small towns.
The Other Guy is a sweet & sexy, laugh out loud romance. The characters have a great connection and great chemistry together. It's a book that will have your cheeks hurting because you smiled so much while reading it. And your heart fluttering as you swoon and fall for their love story.
Profile Image for Jenifer Briggs.
1,427 reviews171 followers
March 16, 2020
I absolutely adore this author, and when she first started teasing us with this book, my grabby hands wanted it right then.. But let me tell you, this is definitely worth the wait!! This book is so sweet, sexy, soon worthy, full of self worth and independence and a love so passionate that it consumed me as a reader.

There was a twist that I honestly didn't see coming, which is definitely rare for me, and even though my heart hurt for our heroine, seeing her grow and stand up for herself, all the while taking control of who she really was (and loving every thing about herself) made my girl power heart just soar.

There were a lot of laugh out loud moments, but underneath the light-heartedness there was such deep emotions and powerful messages that I absolutely loved!

I also really enjoyed getting to see our favorite characters from previous novels! That was such a treat!

I believe that you should go in blind for this book, that's why I didn't spoil any of the plot, but just know that once you start reading you won't stop until it's finished!

And Jack is totally one of my top book boyfriends -- I claim him!😉

Please read this book as soon as you can!! It's so amazing and I know all of you will enjoy it as much as I did!!

**I received an ARC of this book and these are my honest opinions!**
Profile Image for Debbie.
2,061 reviews66 followers
March 26, 2020
Another amazing small town romance from JVW! She never disappoints!

We already know Jack - We know his story with his mom and how they came to be intermingled with the stories JVW has given us. We also know his stepfather (aka his dad - no doubt) James, who is an amazing man, and I'm happy to see that passed down to Jack. He's living his life, eating healthy, running his gym, and isn't really looking for romance. He's getting strange texts meant for his "Textdoor Neighbor" which cause some interesting text convos. I loved this interesting twist as it was something I'd not seen before.

Sierra. A little spitfire who is unique and quirky (and I love her!). She's in a long term, live in relationship with a jackhole. He treats her badly in many ways, some of which you will need to read to find out. Finally she has a enough and moves home to live with her uncle.

A friendship develops between Jack & Sierra and who doesn't need a friend right? I felt like *we* know they are struck by Cupid long before they do. And the twist of who the Textdoor Neighbor is made the story more interesting.

As always, well written; excellent supporting cast of characters; feelings; humor; some hotness factor; and a dog! Amazing, as I've come to expect from JVW!

Profile Image for Susan.
987 reviews11 followers
March 22, 2020
I have been a fan of Jennifer Van Wyk's since she first released From the Ground Up, and I continue to be a fan because she writes great stories- fantastic characters, a wonderful and idyllic setting, and a plot that keeps me entertained.

The Other Guy has some different elements for me. I had never heard the expression "textdoor neighbor" before, and I found it to be an interesting element to the story. I absolutely loved Jack and Sierra! She had this spunky attitude that was just so full of energy and life, and I loved how it drove Jack crazy, but he really loved it. I also loved getting the glimpse of characters from other books by JVW.

I loved The Other Guy- and I look forward to more!
Profile Image for Melena.
2,852 reviews70 followers
March 27, 2020
The Other Guy is my first Jennifer Van Wyk book and I think it was the perfect one to jump in. I understand Jack, the hero, did appear in another book, but I was not lost at all reading it.

Both Jack and Sierra provided a lot of laughs and sweet moments and their banter was great! This was such a fun, entertaining read and perfect when you need an escape.

Thank you to the author for providing an ARC for an honest review.
Profile Image for Suzanne.
2,571 reviews44 followers
March 26, 2020
Having been a huge fan of Jennifer Van Wyk for some time now, The Other Guy did not disappoint. I giggled and I swooned. I was floored at the six degrees of separation in this story! Jack is just that perfect guy. The one your mom always tells you about to find in your life. He is just absolutely everything you want in a guy. Then you have Sierra. She is a handful but her spark is just amazing! I thought her character was well thought out as the story rolled along. WIth the minor twists and turns that alter their future, they come together so naturally. I love how realistic this story actually is. While we all read to escape, sometimes we just need that one book that can ground us with swoon worthy men but also in a real situation. I highly recommend this story for a perfect getaway!
Profile Image for M.E. Carter.
Author 46 books1,054 followers
Read
April 20, 2020
This is my favorite Jennifer Van Wyk book to date. So fun!
Profile Image for Lisa.
371 reviews7 followers
April 4, 2020
Sierra Harthorn is a smart, beautiful and feisty young woman.
Jack Cole is a handsome, sexy, oh so sweet and protective type of guy.
When the two meet they immediately strike up a friendship.
The Other Guy was such a fun read. It had me Laughing out loud and enjoying every minute. I love the banter between Jack and Sierra and their chemistry is magnetic. Jack is such a swoon worthy hero, he is so sweet and protective but in a way he helps make Sierra a better version of herself. This book is a wonderful read that had so many feel good emotions, who wouldn’t love that! I loved seeing glimpses of some of the characters from Jennifer’s other books, it felt like catching up with old friends. I can’t say enough good about The Other Guy, I would highly recommend it you are looking for a sweet romantic feel good read!!
Profile Image for NICUnurse Stephanie .
856 reviews31 followers
March 26, 2020
The Other Guy: A Textdoor Neighbor Romance is a standalone book, but if you’ve read Jennifer Van Wyk’s other books, you’ll enjoy some cameos of some of your favorite characters from earlier released books. I’m a HUGE fan of Jennifer Van Wyk’s books, and I’ve been hearing a lot about it, so I was very excited to get my grabby little hands on it!

When Sierra stumbles into Jack Cole’s life, he’s not sure he’s ready to have his comfortable life shaken up. But Sierra is a gal who marches to the beat of her own drum, and she thinks Jack’s life could use a little shaking up. He refuses to be the other guy so they start out as friends. But when reality takes a crazy, shocking turn, all bets are off.

NICUnurse’s Rating: I usually read at night after I crawl into bed. I have a hard time shutting my mind off, and reading helps calm my thoughts and relaxes me. But I learned with Jennifer Van Wyk’s first book, From the Ground Up, that I should not read her books in bed when the hubs is trying to sleep. I learned that the hard way with the texting bloopers. Trying not to literally laugh out loud was almost impossible! And this book has some truly amazing laugh out loud moments.

I adored Jack Cole as a teenager. He was a steady and surprisingly strong presence in his mom’s life. And since he had James Cole as a mentor and then as a father, he’s turned out just like I had hoped he would. But at the beginning of The Other Guy, he may be a little too set in his routine for a guy his age. Sierra is the perfect girl to shake up his world, and he’s the perfect guy to prove to her that love can look different to different people, and it’s always worth the risk. They both shake up each others’ worlds in different ways, but the end result is the life you’d always hoped Jack would have. As usual, Jennifer Van Wyk’s story had me hooked from page one. If you haven’t read one of her books, you really are missing out. The Other Guy is a good mix of comedic, steamy, and swoon-worthy scenes, and it’s the perfect distraction for the crazy time we’re living in right now!

I give The Other Guy by Jennifer Van Wyk 5 out of 5 stars!
March 22, 2020
James from A Better Place stole my heart years ago and made me a die hard JVW fan. Well...it seems that his stepson Jack has learned more than a thing or two from dear ole dad, because Jack did not disappoint y'all!
Oh my goodness. He brings some serious heat, tempered with just the right balance of sweetness.
Ovary. Explosion.

Sienna and Jack had such a unique romance, one that stemmed from a small-town friendship and was an utter delight to read. There are moments that made me teary eyed, but far more that had me laughing out loud right from the start. JVW has a wicked sense of humor!! At a time when there seems to be so much uncertainty in the world, and so much stress, this was honestly the perfect distraction. I took my time reading the antics of Sienna and Jack, and our ill mannered texting friend just so that I could make the enjoyment last. I loved the boldness of Sienna's personality and how she didn't make apologies for being her own woman. She was a force, and I loved that about her. She was cute, charming, and very witty. Total kryptonite for Jack!
Lucky. Girl.

With so many books being released each week, it has to be near impossible to come up with a fresh new storyline to grab the readers attention. My hats off to JVW because she nailed it with this clever twist on a romance trope!!! I have never read a book with a plot or a meet cute like this one. Add in a spectacular twist, and this book is a sure fire HIT!

As an added bonus, if you've been keeping up with this author's previous releases you're in for a treat, as we get to catch up with plenty of our favorites too! I love the way that this book can absolutely be read as a complete and total standalone without feeling like you're missing a thing, and yet at the same time it can feel like a walk down memory lane. How special is that?!?!

If you enjoy books with lotsa texting shenanigans, then you are going to love the heck outta this one! I don't want to ruin the ride for anyone, but this is a not to be missed read!!
Profile Image for Kara Hildebrand (Two Book Pushers).
1,706 reviews145 followers
March 29, 2020
The Other Guy is Jennifer Van Wyk's newest laugh out loud, swoony romance. It can be read as a standalone, but I suggest you read the connected books since they are really great! It's not a secret that James is my favorite hero of Jennifer's. So I was extra excited to see his son, Jack, get a story! Jack is a good guy. Followed in James' footsteps and went to culinary school, but opened a boxing gym instead. He teaches self defense classes and loves his job. But his life has gotten a little boring and he's become best friends with his couch. His only source of entertainment lately is being the recipient of wrong number texts. Some guy running around having one night stands gave out his number instead. So he's getting random text messages and even though he eventually tells them he's not the man, he does chat for a few minutes with them. He just wants to let them down gently. He can't take the texts anymore and he needs to get out of his house. Then he meets spitfire, Sierra. She's a breath of fresh air, a little crazy and just fun. He needs some fun in his life. Sierra is visiting her uncle and doesn't expect to meet Jack and have a connection with him. She's living with someone, but it's not the best situation. She just needs to realize it's time to cut her losses. Is Jack the man she really wants to be with? As soon as Sierra becomes single, Jack doesn’t want to waste any more time. He wants Sierra and he's willing to wait until she's ready. Will the other guy actually become the one? This was a fun, sexy story! I loved Jack as a teenager and I'm so glad he turned out to be a great man! Sierra is crazy and hilarious! I also loved seeing James and the whole gang again!
Profile Image for Ashley Hampton.
481 reviews21 followers
March 18, 2020
To say I have needed an escape from reality is an understatement. It's been a crazy week, and I definitely needed something to lighten my life, and this author did that for me. I wasn't really sure what to expect when it came to 'The Other Guy', because the blurb doesn't give much away. I can now officially say, that 'The Other Guy' surpassed any and all of my expectations. I have not read a trope that even comes even close to this but my goodness, it was brilliant. Van Wyk gets an A+ for originality.

In my opinion, 'The Other Guy' was a sweet small-town romance that was light weight. This author did an amazing job on the world building aspect. These characters and their story had an amazing amount of depth and personality. I found myself with tears streaming down my face from laughing so hard. The uniqueness that 'The Other Guy' portrays, makes it in a league of it's own.

Sierra and Jack are completely different than any other characters I have read about. They share this magical chemistry because of how different they are. They both are open, and honest, and completely forgoing of all of the BS. Their journey is one I am glad I did not miss. I look forward to more from this author.

*I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK
Profile Image for Lyndsey Miller.
178 reviews6 followers
April 3, 2020
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
Steam: 🔥💥1.5/3
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Before I dive in, let me just say that I L-O-V-E Jennifer’s writing. Don’t get me wrong, I love the rich guys spoiling their lady and the anticipation of how fame affects relationships but Jennifer’s books are filled with people that I can relate to. They are real and raw, they worm their way into my heart and never leave.
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Jack, oh sweet Jack. We met him in a previous book and I loved him as a teen, well now he is all grown up. He is delightful, he has the best heart and just warms my cold black heart. Plus we get more of James which is a bonus, that father son duo is one of my favorites.
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Sierra was an oddball in the best way, she has reasons to be cautious of relationships. Something about Jack makes her concerns fade away, they share some intimate moments quickly. She lives most women’s nightmare fairly soon after they meet each other.
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I loved the premise of this book, number neighbors is a funny concept and it made for a really fresh, unique story. Their chemistry and relationship was fantastic, I adored how they cared for one another so effortlessly. I laughed and swooned ALLLL over this book.
Profile Image for Up All Night With Books.
1,157 reviews40 followers
May 20, 2020
5 Stars
Review by Elizabeth
Late Night Reviewer
Up All Night with Books Blog


Omg! Best. Jennifer. Book. EVER!

Sierra is hands down the most hilarious character I have read in a long while. She is down to earth and deserves way better than what she has right now. When her path intercepts with Jack’s her life is going to change drastically and she has no idea.

Jack is content with his life and when starts receiving text messages from women he has never met, he starts to wonder what is happening. Eventually, he puts two and two together and does his best to let the women down gently. However, some of the ladies do not see it that way.

Jack and Sierra are so different that it makes them the perfect couple. Their chemistry is off the charts but that does not mean everything. I would call this book a Friends to Lovers romance with a dash of Rom-Com. Jennifer has created another wonderful book to go with all the ones she has already. Being able to connect with characters is something that makes the book for me. Aside from that, the book is an amazing read and one that I will most definitely be rereading many times in the future.

**ARC received in exchange for an honest review***
Profile Image for Carol Seymour.
758 reviews3 followers
March 22, 2020
I am a newbie to the writing world of Jennifer Van Wyk. I am so glad I was able to finally jump in but now that I see what I have been missing, I have a compelling need to go back and read all her stories with characters connected to this one. Basically I need to read everything Jennifer Van Wyk.
In this tale, Jack is the consummate bachelor, the man who has it all. He is a successful gym owner, surrounded by family, homeowner,...the list goes on. What he now has is a textdoor neighbor, a man whose phone number is one digit off of his own. The neighbor keeps passing out Jack's number after his one night stands, leaving Jack to deal with the aftermath. Entertaining at first but now he needs this to stop as his conscience is bothering him. In walks a woman to turn Jack's world on it's heel. She is vibrant, free spirited and could put a smile on even the most cantankerous soul. This experience has made Jack question, did he really have it all? What a lighthearted, fun loving, uplifting story! It will certainly bring you back for more.
Profile Image for Michelle.
831 reviews14 followers
March 26, 2020
Another great book by the one and only Jennifer Van Wyk. This is Jack’s book. He is the son of Carly and James. He is a gym owner who is also an extremely talented chef. For years he has just been content with his life. Then his phone starts blowing up with texts from random woman. At first he just ignored them, then he decided he needed to answer them. One night he needs to get out and heads to The Landing. That is where he meets the sarcastic, firecracker, Sierra. She is so outgoing. They end up spending a day together and it is the most fun he has had in years. Sierra is staying with her Uncle Kyle. She has a boyfriend but feels something is missing. When she meets Jack, she finds it. This book is hilarious. Sierra and Jacks interactions were great! The rest of the gang makes appearances in this book too. Barrett, Tess, Grady, Harper, etc... But, this book can be read as a stand alone. And let not forget about Toby, Sierra’s dog. Well...that might be stretching it a bit. LOL! I read this in less than 24 hours and loved every minute of it! Go grab your copy today!!
1,807 reviews11 followers
March 30, 2020
Terrific characters in this quick, easy read. The panty-melting Jack and the zany Sierra make for the cutest, sexiest couple I've read in awhile. I loved the crazy antics of Sierra right from the start. She's my kind of gal with her love for dogs and choice of careers. And then there's Jack. Yummy! A fighter and a lover. Lover of all things food with his culinary talents. And on the wrong side of a textdoor neighbor situation. I loved that this author didn't shy away from the reality of bodily functions although it was a little graphic. But I rather that than just ignoring what a body needs. The big group of family and friends in this story is fantastic, especially Uncle Kyle. And props to the rescue, Toby. I love a good dog character! Entertaining and sexy with a few laughs thanks to Sierra's larger than life personality and Jack's textdoor chats. There were a couple of holes in the plot and the textdoor coincidence was a little much but overall it was an enjoyable read with a sizzling couple. Great epilogue! I voluntarily reviewed an ARC.
Profile Image for Carrie.
3,305 reviews29 followers
March 18, 2020
Ahhhh! What a refreshing & FANTASTIC read! If you're a fan of Jennifer's writing, you'll recognize our hero of this tale. We met Jack in A Better Place when his mom took a risk to save their lives, and met the man who would change them both for the better. ; ) You'll also get to visit w/ some awesome characters from previous books who enhance Jack's story & make you want to dive into those stories, too (for the first time or again)!

I wasn't QUITE sure where Jack's story was going. Who would be his lady love? Was this going to be a story I could fall in love with? The answer is a resounding YES! I absolutely fell in love with this couple - their personalities & quirks & hearts & best of all, their communication & BANTER! There also might be a really great pupper... :D And some steamy goodness, as well!

This was a highly enjoyable read & is on my favorites list no question! : )
Profile Image for Charlene.
669 reviews
March 19, 2020
A story that’s hot as hell, but also laugh out loud funny...perfect!

Jack may have been young in Jennifer Van Wyk’s A Better Place, but he’s all man now and just might give his Dad, James, a run for his money! I love how Jennifer’s books are interconnected and I get to see more of the characters I’ve come to know and love.

Jack is getting someone else’s text messages, and not by accident! When some guy is giving out his number to women after one night stands, Jack ends up dealing with the aftermath.

When he meets Sierra, they bond over his text messaging fiasco, and he initially finds her to be like an annoying sister, but then he starts to notice how beautiful, how fun, and how sexy she is.

Jack and Sierra are a very hot, yet goofy and fun couple...they’re perfect for each other! There’s quite the unexpected and entertaining twist, plus the banter and the antics, made this book and an incredibly enjoyable escape.
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