The Neighbor Upstairs

by Vanessa Rhoswen

Two neighbors. One teacup on a string. Two years of anonymous notes, and one very inconvenient crush.

Packaging designer Saskia Moreno swears she has her life together—if you ignore the overbearing family group chat, the coffee addiction, and her talent for accidentally embarrassing herself in front of her new boss. The only thing keeping her sane? The mysterious upstairs neighbor who’s been trading witty teacup notes with her for years.

When Saskia lands a dream job at Devereaux Cosmetics, she doesn’t expect her new work life to collide with the Lucien Devereaux—the brooding CEO who makes HR nervous and apparently has never laughed in his life. Between disastrous meetings, undeniable chemistry, and the world’s worst elevator encounters, Saskia finds herself caught between two men… who might just be the same one.

In a city full of missed connections, could the love of her life really be one floor away?


The Neighbor Upstairs is a slow-burn romantic comedy about mistaken identities, workplace chaos, and the secrets we keep just one floor apart.

450 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication February 1, 2026

About the author

Vanessa Rhoswen writes fantasy, contemporary, and urban fantasy romance novels. An avid reader and fan of Korean dramas and Manhwas, her stories are inspired by the characters, worlds, and emotions she’s encountered in these mediums. She loves to explore the imaginary and magical worlds that transport her to realms beyond the ordinary, where myth and magic reign.

Reviews

[Nicole M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun read! I always been a huge romcom reader but they were starting to blend all together. This was so fun and fresh. I loved following Saskia, what a refreshingly relatable character! Highly recommend to anyone who loves a good fun romance.

[readwithyann · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Neighbor Upstairs by Vanessa Rhoswen ☕️💌

I absolutely loved the concept of the teacup letters. The story was fresh and cute, though I didn't quite get the "slow burn" I was hoping for.

​The only downside for me was how the big secret was revealed. Instead of a shared, meaningful moment, they both realized the truth through separate events. After all the hints they both missed in the letters, it felt like a missed opportunity for a deeper connection. (grandpa was busy behind the scenes though! 😂)

​Still, seeing the couple try to act professional at work while stealing glances was adorable. I was blushing the whole time! I definitely recommend this if you want a light, swoon-worthy story.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so freaking cute! Once I really sat down and started reading, I couldn't put it down! It's full of rom-com misunderstandings, adorable note passing, secret identities, and so many workplace misadventures. Saskia and Lucien are so perfectly complementary (once they figure out that their fiery attraction is something to move forwards with) and I was laughing at what felt like every other page from the notes.

This was such a good read, and if slow-burns and rom-coms are your thing, then this is one that you definitely won't want to miss out on!

[FN · Rating 5 out of 5]

This feels like it's coming straight from a Hallmark movie ♥️. The constant falling, fumbling, and tripping over the boss should have been annoying, borderline cheesy and cringe (I definitely groaned 😂), but somehow it still ended up being ridiculously adorable 😂. The whole “the universe knows something and everyone’s secretly suspicious” trope might be the biggest joke of all, yet it’s done in such a cute, heartwarming way that I just love it. I absolutely love the beautiful chaos and drama wrapped up in this story ♥️.

Im thankful to be given the opportunity to read this in advance.

[Adena Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so chaotically fun! Talk about misunderstandings, mishaps and comedic errors! Crashzia and Bosszilla are simultaneously so introspective and in sync and so oblivious to the obvious. While I do not condone the matchmaking of various relatives and friends (I had enough of that from my mom), I do love the HEA. I just wish that hospitalization was not required to create the HEA!

I received an ARC from the author and I am gleefully voluntarily leaving a review.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love rom coms or k dramas this book is for you! It has the yearning and will they won’t they vibes we all love too see. I did find it hard to believe that they wouldn’t have known they were each others neighbors with the notes they wrote but it didn’t bother me that much. It was good for the story! Saskia and Lucien had great chemistry from the beginning especially with that meet cute they had. 4.5 stars!

[Prachi M · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️ 4.5/5

The Neighbor Upstairs was such a fun, bingeable read. I genuinely couldn’t put it down once I started. The story leans into a slow-burn romantic comedy vibe with mistaken identities, workplace chaos, and that delicious “so close yet so far” tension that keeps you flipping pages. It also gave me major classic rom-com energy and reminded me of You’ve Got Mail. If you enjoy rom-coms that are high on banter/chaos and big on slow-burn payoff, this one is absolutely worth picking up.

[ansley nolan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an incredible read! This was the first romance book I picked up in 2026, and was such a great find. This book is truly such a great cozy, contemporary romance, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for an escape from the real world. Without spoiling anything, characters are so easy to fall in love with, and the plot had me giggling and kicking my feet the entire time! Thank you Vanessa Rhoswen for an Advanced Copy of this book!!

[Becky Veszelei · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a sweet and fun read! 1990s to early 2000s romcom-era vibes with the teacup-notes, workplace romance and family meddling.

I’m so grateful to have received this as an ARC in exchange for my honest review! It was great!

[Danae Southerland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author and team for the ARC in exchange for a review!

I enjoyed this book immensely! It had me laughing out loud at different points and I enjoyed getting to watch their stories unfold. A good fun romantic comedy fit the bill!

[Payton Sloan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book and it did not disappoint! The connection between two characters was done in a way I’ve never seen before and it was so refreshing! Saskia is definitely somebody I would want as a best friend and I absolutely loved her friendship with Ashley and River. Don’t get me started on Lucien. I want him bottled up just for me, LOL. Hands down, this will be a book that I reread many times over in the future 😍