Displacement

Displacement. Alexandra Warren. 2019. 105 pages. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.]

For her third installment in the Building 402 series, Alexandra Warren puts the spotlight on Nicole and Montgomery.
The two were introduced in the previous installments of this series, and I’ve been wondering what their deal was for a while. I definitely enjoyed getting up close and personal with them in this book. Best friends since middle school, the two find themselves in uncharted territory as they grapple with a shift in their feelings toward each other.

These feelings couldn’t come at a more precarious time for Nic. She’s reeling from an accidental apartment fire that turned nearly all of her belongings into ash. Now, she’s an extended visitor on her best friend’s sofa while she regroups. They already have an uncomfortable tension from them because Nic’s jealousy reared its head. Being under one another puts their friendship to the test, mainly because neither is comfortable in making the first step.

I’m a sucker for a good “can they escape the friendzone” romance, and Displacement doesn’t disappoint. Nic and Monte have a playful rapport that you can see is rooted in years of having each others’ back. Their chemistry mostly made me wonder how they managed to front like they were alright being platonic for so long. Of course, the book wasn’t without its drama. Nic’s profession as an dancer made it hard for some to see her as more than “that stripper bitch.” This came up in a hilarious interaction with Monte’s ex and a possible. Still, I appreciated how Warren presented Nic as more than her career and challenged some common misconceptions about women who dance for their career.

Another upside to this book is that Warren revisits the couples from her first two books in this series. They’re all integral to Nic and Monte’s situation, without being overly involved — it felt like they’ve all established an organic neighborly rapport that makes me want to move in. I also appreciated getting an update about what was happening in their lives, which I felt was included seamlessly without taking too much attention. This building and its residents are always good for a chuckle or moment of passion.

The residents of Building 402 are certainly a cast of characters, and this newest venture continues to showcase their ups and downs in love. I’m not sure where the building will go next, but the past three books have me ready to find out.