Title: Playtime's Over
A Neighbor from Hell Series Standalone
Author: R.L. Mathewson
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Tropes: Enemies to Lovers, Rom Com
Release Date: January 23, 2026
BLURB
Six years is a long time to wait for revenge…
From New York Times Bestselling Author R.L. Mathewson comes the next novel in the Neighbor from Hell series, filled with revenge, questionable choices, and a Bradford determined to make the one woman that he couldn’t live without fall in love with him.
Once upon a time, Kristen Haven was his best friend, his entire world, and the one woman Garrett Bradford couldn’t stop thinking about, but that all changed six years ago when a simple misunderstanding ruined everything, and now…
Now, he was really hoping that she was willing to overlook the fact that he’d made her life a living hell for the past six years.
It was never going to happen.
Not after he’d told her to go to hell, and definitely not after he sent clowns to frolic in her front yard. Now that he knew the truth, Kristen was determined to forget about him and move on with her life, but there was just one problem with that plan…
She needed him.
Which meant that she had no choice but to give in to his demands, remind herself that she needed him whenever the urge to beat the hell out of him with whatever was within reach hit, and pretend that she wasn’t falling in love with the one man that she could never forgive.
A romantic comedy about second chances, revenge, questionable life choices, and one man determined to win back the only woman he’s ever loved…whether she likes it or not.
I was really excited to jump back into the Neighbor from Hell series by R.L. Mathewson—it’s been a few years since I last read one, and I remember absolutely loving these books. Playtime’s Over definitely brought back some of that classic Bradford chaos and humor that made the series so fun in the first place.
The second-chance romance between Kristen and Garrett had a lot of potential, and I did enjoy the tension, history, and the whole “he’s been in love with her all along” dynamic. There were moments that made me smile and reminded me why I fell for this series to begin with.
That said, this one didn’t resonate with me quite as much as some of the earlier books. At times, the humor and character interactions felt a bit more over-the-top than I personally prefer, which made it a little harder for me to fully connect with the story. The recurring catchphrase among the characters, which gives the dialogue a very distinct style did start to stand out to me as the book went on.
Overall, I’d say this was a solid, enjoyable read—especially for longtime fans of the series—but not my favorite installment. I’m still glad I picked it up, and I’ll always have a soft spot for the Bradfords and their over-the-top antics.
New York Times Bestselling author, R.L. Mathewson was born in Massachusetts. She’s known for her humor, quick wit and ability to write relatable characters. She currently has several paranormal and contemporary romance series published including the Neighbor from Hell series.
Growing up, R.L. Mathewson was a painfully shy bookworm. After high school she attended college, worked as a bellhop, fast food cook, and a museum worker until she decided to take an EMT course. Working as an EMT helped her get over her shyness as well as left her with some fond memories and some rather disturbing ones that from time to time show up in one of her books.
Today, R.L. Mathewson is the single mother of two children that keep her on her toes. She has a bit of a romance novel addiction as well as a major hot chocolate addiction and on a perfect day, she combines the two.
If you’d like more information about this series or any other series by R.L. Mathewson, please visit www.Rlmathewson.com
AUTHOR LINKS
GIVEAWAY
There is a giveaway to win a signed copy of Playtime’s Over, a Bradford Constructions tee-shirt and a $50 Amazon gift card.
