Next Door

PLOT

CandyJar is becoming one of the go-to apps for Young Adult stories, and Next Door is another strong addition to that lineup 💚

The story follows Kit and River, two teenagers who used to be close as kids before life slowly pushed them apart. Years later, they’re living completely different lives, yet something still keeps pulling them back toward each other.

Like many BL stories, some tropes are familiar. The “jock falls for the musician” setup is something we’ve seen many times before. But here, it feels more layered. The characters have more depth than in many BL verticals, and it’s easy to either relate to them—or at least want to root for them.

CHARACTERS

Kit

Kit is a musician, openly gay, and constantly targeted by some of the popular kids at school. Thankfully, he has Hadley by his side.

Even though he might seem fragile at first, Kit is much stronger than people give him credit for. What I really liked is that he wasn’t afraid to confront River, even when he fully expected rejection. He didn’t want to live with regrets, and considering River’s behavior early on, that took courage.

Nic was absolutely amazing in this role. He perfectly balanced vulnerability and charisma.

River

At first, I honestly didn’t like River much. He was clearly playing a role to fit in with the “cool kids,” and the way he flirted with Kit while refusing to fully accept himself was frustrating.

But once he opened up, my opinion changed completely. When he admitted he had always liked Kit—even back when they were kids—it suddenly made sense.

River isn’t just a jerk hiding his sexuality. He’s a teenager completely lost in the image he built for himself. Between his mother being a public figure and the pressure to maintain appearances, he trapped himself inside his own lies.

Carrie

Carrie is the classic Drama Queen you love to hate 😌

Of course she discovers Kit and River’s relationship, and of course she uses it to blackmail River into getting back with her.

Bella absolutely nailed the role because she genuinely annoyed me the entire time—which honestly means she did her job perfectly.

Darius

Darius was actually one of the biggest surprises in the series.

At first, he seems like the typical jock cliché: bullying Kit, acting tough, trying to dominate the school hierarchy. And for a while, that’s exactly who he is.

But then we learn he’s closeted himself, and suddenly his aggression makes more sense. It doesn’t excuse his behavior, but it adds complexity to it. Teenage years are messy, especially when you’re struggling to understand yourself.

We don’t often see this type of layered character in Verticals, so it was refreshing. Nick portrayed that internal conflict really well.

Hadley

We love a supportive bestie 💚

Hadley is caring, loyal, and just pushy enough to help Kit when needed. At times I worried she pushed him too hard and he’d get hurt, but she understood both him and River better than anyone else.

DEVELOPMENT

Like many CandyJar series, a few extra episodes would have helped. Still, the story feels complete overall.

What I appreciated the most was the balance in the bullying. Violence has become more and more extreme in Verticals lately, especially in BL stories set in high school. But Next Door keeps things grounded.

Yes, Kit is bullied—but there are no over-the-top beatdowns or exaggerated violence. It feels more realistic, which makes the characters easier to connect with and the story more emotionally effective.