The Hustler Next Door | By K A Tucker

My thoughts

Narrative and Plot

The Hustler Next Door is told from the protagonist Justine’s point of view. She’s freshly out of a relationship and still grieving, while uprooting her life to Polson Falls. Justine is witty and direct, and the banter and conversations are entertaining—largely thanks to her personality. We’ve already had a glimpse of that in the first book, The Player Next Door.

The plot starts strong and is set up nicely, but it meanders in the second half and loses direction. There’s no real payoff, and everything leans into the happily ever after. For some readers, that’s fine. But if, like me, you enjoy a strong storyline, the second half may feel underwhelming.

Characters and Conflicts

Justine’s character arc starts from the first book itself, so there’s enough time and space to develop her personal journey—and it sticks the landing. Meanwhile, Garette doesn’t have much to offer beyond being the love interest. He mainly exists to move the plot forward and fall in love with Justine.

Also, the instant connection between the leads didn’t work for me this time either. The central conflict starts off like a David vs. Goliath situation, but it fizzles out by the end. There’s nothing substantial happening in the third act. That said, the ensemble cast does create some fun moments in between.

Conclusion

Overall, it’s an easy and entertaining read. But if you’re looking for something deeper to take away from the story, you might be left wanting more. If you’ve already started the series and just want to revisit Polson Falls, this one’s worth a shot.

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