This book feels mischaracterized as a Romance. The first kiss happens between the H and h at 91% through the book (reading on a eReader).

9/10 of a way through a book is a lot of build-up, but in this case even the build up wasn't very exciting.

The story was so slow in getting anywhere at all (not just slow on romance, just slow in every way) that I just couldn't keep reading. It's hard to engage with characters when the story is plodding along with almost no story arc or purpose. Moving on after divorce and redecorating a house is not that exciting.

This book and its snail-like pace was definitely not for me.

THE NEW NORMAL ist das neueste Buch von TRACY BROGAN und ich habe das Buch ABSOLUT GELIEBT!
CARLI LANCASTER ist 42 Jahre alt, frisch geschieden, hat zwei Mädchen im High School-Alter und einen ziemlich unerzogenen Hund. Zugutehalten muss man ihr (und dem Hund), dass die Fellnase noch sehr jung ist. BEN CHASE ist der neue Nachbar! Gerade getrennt, ebenfalls mit Kindern.
Das Kennenlernen der beiden verläuft nicht ganz so reibungslos, auch hier hat erst einmal der Hund seine Pfoten im Spiel. Aber das Buch wäre vermutlich auch nur halb so lustig, wenn es anders wäre!
Die Nachbarschaft, in der die beiden leben, erinnert mich ein wenig an einen deutschen Kleingartenverein, denn es werden mahnende Briefe geschrieben, sobald der Rasen eine bestimmte Höhe überschreitet oder andere Pflichten nicht rechtzeitig wahrgenommen werden. Außerdem wird getratscht bis sich die Balken biegen.
Ich liebe den SCHREIBSTIL von TRACY BROGAN. Ihre Bücher sind immer LUSTIG, UNTERHALTSAM und VERSTÄNDLICH geschrieben. Auch bei THE NEW NORMAL habe ich wieder viel gelacht und die Geschichte lässt sich auch für nicht Muttersprachler hervorragend im Original lesen. Die Erzählweise der Autorin macht es einem leicht die Geschichte vor dem inneren Auge zu sehen. Insbesondere die Frauen aus der Nachbarschaft kann ich mir nur zu gut vorstellen. Auch dass es CARLI es nicht immer schafft einen Bogen um die Fettnäpfchen zu machen, die das Leben so bereitstellt, und das macht die ganze Geschichte WIRKLICH AMÜSANT und REALITÄTSNAH.
THE NEW NORMAL ist abwechselnd aus CARLIS und BENS Perspektive erzählt. So lernt man beide Protagonisten gut kennen. Ich mag das sehr, bietet es einem doch noch tiefere Einblicke in das Leben der Protagonisten.
THE NEW NORMAL von der WUNDERBAREN TRACY BROGAN ist ein tolles Buch für einen oder mehrere gemütliche Nachmittage auf der Couch. Mir hat das Buch richtig gut gefallen! Ich hatte viel Spaß und ein KURZWEILIGES LESEVERGNÜGEN. Deshalb von mir absolut verdiente 5 von 5 STERNEN.

The New Normal is one fine story about woman with two teenaged daughters and an enormous dog trying to find her way post divorce. Her very male, very sexy new next door neighbor, also with two teenagers is in the process of getting a divorce. The neighborhood they live in is very big on community celebrations that along with the kids and her unruly dog set these two up for at least a growing friendship. Tracy Brogan has a style of writing that reveals honest themes and responses from her characters and her readers. This is a love story, but the course of love is seldom smooth and divorce means letting go and redefining. The journey is the important thing and what a fun journey Ms. Brogan sends her characters and readers on. I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book from NetGalley. Most highly recommend.

“For the first time in a long time, he wondered if there just might be life after divorce.”

After almost two decades of marriage, Carli finds herself navigating life as a divorced woman with two kids and a hellion of a dog. Then Ben moves into her neighborhood. Ben’s world was recently rocked when he found out that his wife has been having an affair with his business partner and is divorcing him to find her “authentic self.” Thus, the move to Carli’s neighborhood. Will these two find the medicine to soothe their wounds in each other?

Guys, this book is adorable! The whole thing just works. Carli and Ben are precious. You’ll be firmly in their corners and cheering them on from their very first meeting—which is priceless, by the way. This story made me smile, giggle out loud, and swoon. I thoroughly enjoyed every page.

A new home. A new career. A new dog. A new romance. A NEW NORMAL!!

Contemporary romance fans shouldn’t miss this one.

Great romance from the first page to the last. Just love the characters and the writing really surprised me.I highly recommend this one.

This was a good read, very well written and a sweet calm story! I liked the characters and like I said a good story. It was enjoyable but very flat not much happened, it was funny in parts and some heartbreak and heartache in other parts just a cute sweet read! Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for sharing this book with me!

Carli is a recently divorced mother of two teenagers with jerk of an ex-husband. Ben is in the process of divorcing his wife and the mother of his two children after finding out that she has been cheating on him with his best friend and business partner.

Carli and Ben meet when he buys the home next door to hers. After a tense first meeting, they become good friends who slowly begin to realize that they are attracted to each other. A series of humorous yet completely believable events occur as they struggle to move forward in their relationship.

Ms. Brogan’s romances are always fun-filled, yet romantic. The New Normal certainly fills that bill!