Back in the Burbs by Tracy Wolff and Avery Flynn: The last three months have just been plain sucky 
for Mallory, first she finds her lawyer husband cheating on her in New York apartment with the new paralegal, then she loses her job at the very same firm that she helped her no good cheating ex build from the ground up, oh and the one person in her family who really gets her; her great-aunt Maggie dies.
So at thirty-five Mallory finds herself back at home staying in her childhood bedroom while both of her parents all but insist that she fixes her marriage, because cheating is not all that bad. However all hope is not lost you see good old aunt Maggie left Mallory one last gift, her house in the Huckleberry. So it is off to the burbs for Mall, only problem being the house is not in the best shape and has a list a mile long of H.O.A infractions.
“My ovaries just need an exorcism, that’s all. I’m going to go on a lunch date with a sexy young contractor. Let him pull out my chair . Make me laugh. Offer me compliments. And if eventually he wants to show me his hammer— I’m going to say yes, please. Pound it harder.”
Determined to take back her life, Mallory is ready to roll up her sleeves and put in the work to bring her aunts house back to it’s full glory, tackling one H.O.A violations at a time. However Mall definitely did not factor in her new super hot neighbour, who seems hell bent that she cut her grass. With the two new neighbours not getting of to the best start things take a swift turn when Nick comes face to face with Malls no good ex, hating seeing the women that fascinates him so get trampled by a pushy lawyer Nick offers up some legal help to fight for Malls rights. Soon Mall and Nick find themselves falling into a comfortable routine of work and fixing up the house, but what happens when Nick begins develop more than friendly feelings for Mallory? Will Nick be able to convince Mall that not all lawyer are evil and that he is worth taking a chance on?
“This is just for fun. I have absolutely nothing to worry about. And if my ovaries are taking bets on which one of us is lying, well, that’s nobody’s business but my own. They’re traitorous bitches anyway.”
Loved! I absolutely adored this book! Avery Flynn is one of my favorite go to authors for a cute witty romcom read so I was thrilled to see that she had teamed up with Tracy Wolff another amazing writer to create this hilarious H.O.A inspired romcom. Back In The Burbs was one of those books that you just can’t put down until you have completed this read.
“Temptation, thy name is Netflix and chill with my superhot neighbor who kisses like it’s his job and loves what he does for a living.”
Mallory was an absolute brilliant female lead, I loved that she wanted to reset her life and live it for herself this time. Even though she was pretty rundown when we first meet her I loved her determination to get back up and start a fresh. But boy was she brave to take on such a fixer upper and on her own at that. As for our hero Nick, he was just the sweetest. I loved that he was the complete opposite to Mall in that he was neat and organized. Though it was that he wanted to support not save Mallory that truly made him perfect, he heard exactly what she was saying and did whatever he could do to help her without overstepping the mark or stepping over her.
“It’s adorable and awful at the same time because this is the life I always wanted—the one I still want. The teasing. The fun. The in-it-togetherness, weird quirks and all. And the thing is, I don’t just want that life. I want it with Nick because, despite how much I fought it, I’ve fallen for Mr. Always There and I can’t imagine him not being a part of my life. All I have to do to make that want a reality is to have the guts to fight for it.”
I have to give great aunt Maggie a shout out for bringing these two together even when she was no longer with them, I loved that their mutual love for her helped bridge the gap in a way. In general the supporting characters were brilliant though I do have to say I absolutely hated Malls ex husband, like what a jerk! Another character I was not to thrilled with were her parents, like support your daughter don’t make her feel bad, I eventually warmed up to her mother once we got to know her story but her dad was a no go for me. Also I absolutely loved the instant relationship that Mall formed with Sarah.
I can not say it enough Back In The Burbs was one of the best romcom’s that I have read in a while, this is definitely going to be hold a firm top ten stop of me. I would definitely recommend skyrocketing this novel to the top of your TBR!!
Book Info:
Publication: March 30th 2021 | Entangled: Amara |
Ever have one of those days where life just plain sucks? Welcome to my last three months—ever since I caught my can’t-be-soon-enough ex-husband cheating with his paralegal. I’m thirty-five years old, and I’ve lost my NYC apartment, my job, my money, and frankly, my dignity.
But the final heartache in the suck sandwich of my life? My great-aunt Maggie died. The only family member who’s ever gotten me.
Even after death, though, she’s helping me get back up. She’s willed me the keys to a house in the burbs, of all places, and dared me to grab life by the family jewels. Well, I’ve got the vise grips already in hand (my ex should take note) and I’m ready to fight for my life again.
Too bad that bravado only lasts as long as it takes to drive into Huckleberry Hills. And see the house.
There are forty-seven separate HOA violations, and I feel them all in my bones. Honestly, I’m surprised no one’s “accidentally” torched the house yet. I want to, and I’ve only been standing in front of it for five minutes. But then my hot, grumpy neighbor tells me to mow the lawn first and I’m just…done. Done with men too sexy for their own good and done with anyone telling me what to do ever again.
First rule of surviving the burbs? There is nothing that YouTube and a glass of wine can’t conquer.
