Wallbanger by Alice Clayton

Wallbanger is a feel-good romance that has all the ingredients.

It’s a story about Caroline, an interior designer (not a decorator dammit!), that when moving into a new appartment, discovers that she can hear way more of her next door neighbour’s nightly activities than she bargained for. Not only does the incessant banging on the other side of the thin wall disrupt her sleep, but her cat goes bananas as well. As it turns out, the rude, wallbanging, womanpleasing (yes, Caroline can definitely hear how satisfied the different women on the other side of her bedroom wall are) guy that is her neighbour is also hot hot hot. When she storms over in a fury – wearing only a skimpy nighty – one particularly bangy night, she gets to see all that sweaty hotness wearing only a sheet.

Wallbanger (he’s actually named Simon though) and Caroline turns out to have mutual acquaintances. And as her girlfriends really hit it off with Simon’s buddies, the two neighbours are forced into hanging out and even be civil to each other. Sparks fly in more sense than one, and irritation and anger are replaced by attraction. But Simon seems to have an entire harem of women parading through his appartment, so will Caroline need to settle with only being friends?

This story is lovely. There is no other word for it. It’s about two people with baggage – and a slight fear of relationships – and their friendship that changes into something more. But it’s not only a love story. It’s funny too which is super important, to me at least. If there isn’t any humour in between the angsty and romancy parts, it’s just plain boring. Clayton manages to tick all the boxes though. There’s romance, wit and a little drama. But what I really like, and what makes this different from many other romance novels I’ve read, is how the relationship between Caroline and Simon evolves. The sexual tension is there from the start, but the progression of their friendship is beautifully portrayed and not just a rush-job in order to get to the lovey-dovey parts..

Also, a huge plus for the ‘twist’ in the end which really made the story stand out and stopped Wallbanger from ending on a too mushy note.

So if you’re looking for a love story with all the feels, try Wallbanger.