Member Reviews
Mallory is a soon to be divorcee who just inherited her Aunts house in a quant suburb. Little did she know the house is a wreck and is adding HOA violations like crazy. In comes the hot neighbor from across the street Nick. Nick can’t wait to tell her to get her ugly lawn mowed before for violations come her way. Of course Mallory and Nick have amazing chemistry and eventually become more than angry Neighbors. Between her soon to be ex-husband, her meddling parents and the over stuffed how Maggie brings her share of baggage to the party. This was a great quick read. There were several laugh out loud moments and a few twists and turns, that made this a fun read.
Although I've read many of Avery Flynn's creations, Tracy Wolff is a new to me author.
I'd say that the influence of a writing partner has changed the 'feeling' of what I'm used to from Avery Flynn in this particular novel, but most certainly not in a bad way.
In fairness, not having read Tracy Wolff before is skewing my take on this book. Perhaps Avery Flynn's influence changed the way Tracy Wolff normally writes.
Whichever way round this happens to be, it is impossible to tell how this collaboration was organised, the flow is seamless and the reader is easily carried along in the Mallory current.
Back in the Bubs is laugh out loud, but only in bits. Other sections have you tearing your hair out in frustration with Mallory and then, quick as a flash, you feel so much sympathy for her!
For me, this is a story of a woman coming into her own after having been mal-treated for many years. A woman who, with the aid of memories of her late aunt, remembers how to be strong. The journey for Mallory and Nick is just a side benefit.
Definitely worthy of a spece on your TBR!
Book Review
Back in the Burbs
By Tracy Wolff and Avery Flynn
Thank you to @valentine_pr_ , @netgalley and @entangled _publishing for my gifted ecopy in exchange for an honest review
“Maybe your ovaries know what they are talking about, and you should listen to them for once”
“When life gives you lemons add vodka”
Funny. Flirty. Fabulous.
Mallory is hysterical. She is all of us! A 30 something soon to be divorcee who has just realized she has been living her life for other people. The death of her Aunt is the catalyst that drives her to follow her own dreams. Witty and charismatic I was immediately drawn to Mallory. We can all relate to the self doubt and anxiety one faces when making a huge life decision, Wolff and Flynn left it all out there for us to see and relate. Now, the whole ‘black sheep of family, widowed aunt leaves house/money inheritance” has been done a lot- but this felt fresh. The HOA rules and regulations, the love/hate relationship, and a few surprises made this book a page turner!
An easy reading, laugh out loud rom-com that will have you day drinking and conversing with your ovaries.
Mallory hasn't had it easy ever since she caught her husband cheating with this paralegal. She's thirty-five, she's lost her home, her job, her money, and finally her great aunt Maggie. The only family member who's ever gotten her.
Even after death, her great aunt is helping Mallory get back up. She's willed her a house in the burbs. Just as she's received this news she's being pushed to sell without any discussion with her. Mallory puts her foot down and decides it time to get her life back on track.
When she gets to see the house, there is a lot of work to be done. Plus she has quite a few HOA violations to sort through and a hot grumpy neighbor, who tells her to mow her lawn,
I really liked Mallory and Nick. She was funny and smart. NIck was a grump at first but the more time they spend together you get to see him in a different side of him.
It was really hard to put down and those last few chapters especially made it hard to do.
Thanks so much to Entangled, NetGalley, and the authors for this copy to review.
4.5 Stars for Back in the Burbs by Tracy Wolff and Avery Flynn
I’m very familiar with Avery Flynn but Tracy Wolff is a new author to me but after reading Back to the Burbs that will certainly change, this duo of very talented authors did a seamless job with this entertaining read, if fact i have no idea who wrote what and that’s a sure sign of a good writing duo.
Mallory has inherited her aunts house and she sees this as a golden opportunity to get her life back on track, she needs to move on from her cheating ex husband and this could be just what she needs, what she didn’t bargain for was to be in endless fights with the HOA who seem determined to have her fail, she needs someone who knows there way around the suburb she has moved into and could that be her extremely hot but grumpy neighbor Nick.
As Nick and Mallory get to know each other, sparks start to fly as emotions and feelings come into play. As their relationship moves forward Mallory really becomes the woman we knew was hiding inside right from the start of this book, struggling with relationships becomes a thing of the past as we see her embrace her sense of humour , show her sassy side and open her heart to Nick.
This enemies to lovers is a wonderful, entertaining read that will appeal to a wide range of audiences, the banter is witty, the characters adorable and the story is believable. This book certainly ticked all my boxes and I’m sure it will tick yours too.
Back in the Burbs by Tracy Wolff and Avery Flynn was a fun read with so many feels. Mallory and Nick had steamy chemistry and witty back and forth that had me captivated from start to finish. Mallory just wanted to start over after finding her ex in a very compromising position. She felt a bit lost, but I love how determined she was. Nick can be a bit gruff, but he can also be caring and so damn likable. I loved their interactions so much. Their journey had me smiling, though there are some emotional topics that the authors did a great job handling. A rom-com that will leave you happy and smiling.
Happy reading!
So much fun!!!!
This is one of the best rom-coms I’ve ever read. Mallory is a mess and it takes her some time to figure things out but once she does, watch out!!
Nick is so awesome!!
This is romantic comedy at its best! It is a story filled with family drama, betrayal, adultery and secrets but still manages to turn itself into a fantastic heartwarming romance.
After catching her husband cheating, Mallory Martin Bach is rethinking her life, her choices and what happens next. She's left him but has also now lost her job as she was the office manager at the law firm they set up and she has little in the way of savings. Inheriting the home in the burbs from her beloved but eccentric great-aunt Maggie is a welcome surprise - till she goes there and discovers her aunt was a hoarder and the house is in serious need of repairs, there are taxes to pay and rules being broken. Not only that but the grumpy neighbour from across the road has a go at her for not mowing the lawns before she's even had time to unpack! Whilst this isn't the greatest of introductions to the neighbourhood, she's determined not to give in to her Dad and sell up, she's going to make a new life for herself - without men - here in the burbs . . . she hopes!
This is a story filled with striving to do your best, despite the lack of support given by others.... Making a fresh start, not giving in to demands and learning to stand up for yourself ...... Learning new skills, thanks to YouTubers!! It is also about family secrets being revealed, getting to know new people and learning to trust yourself and your judgement - but being prepared to apologise when you're wrong. It is such a fun story, despite some of the heavy issues involved and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. If you're looking for a light hearted but moving look at life and living, complete with several HEAs, grab yourself a copy of this delightful book and be prepared to start laughing!
Thanks to Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for my copy of this book which I have voluntarily read and honestly reviewed.
My biggest issue with this? Besides the fact that it's really more women's fiction than romance, it's without a doubt the heroine's story... and I didn't like her. She's a hot mess who is so absorbed in her own problems that she doesn't treat the people in her life well. She casually dates a genuinely nice, interested, hot guy for a SIGNIFICANT portion of the book, despite the fact that she knows she's leading him on (not the hero, by the way). She makes such little effort to get to know the hero that we don't know ANYTHING about his past, his feelings, his intentions, etc, until the book is almost over. Until the end, I knew more about HOA requirements and divorce proceedings than I did the hero, which... is not really the way I like my love stories to go. I've seriously enjoyed romances from both of these authors in the past and this is well written, but I definitely had some issues with it.
The story follows Mallory, a 35-year-old woman who is going through a divorce. Looking back, she sees all the ways she went wrong in her marriage, but that doesn't do anything to help her present situation - she's broke, jobless, and carrying around a pile of baggage. So when she inherits a rundown home with a string of HOA violations against it, it's Mallory's second chance at life... maybe. First, she has to get the house (and herself together). The men in her life all complicate that: there's the sexy yet infuriating neighbor who always seems to be around, the hot contractor who should be giving her butterflies, and the soon-to-be ex who continues to weigh her down.
This one is probably going to work better for readers who enjoy women's fiction, because about 75% of the book is focused on Mallory getting her life back together. I really loved the hints of romance that were in this, but they were just too few and far between for me. Plus, Mallory doesn't treat Nick well, and he is nothing but a good guy to her, despite a few grumblings in the beginning. I wanted more Nick; I wanted a LOT more Nick. This does get pretty steamy towards the end and it started to feel more like romance at that point, but it also felt very rushed. I could've done with about a hundred fewer pages about the house and a hundred more about Nick, but that's just me. Like I said, it's well written; these are two talented authors who know how to write a great book, so I'm sure this will resonate with some readers more than others. I received an early copy and am voluntarily leaving a review of this second chance at life story.
Back in the Burbs is the perfect blend of a woman (Mallory) finding her inner strength and standing up for herself…all while getting a divorce from her cheating husband…and avoiding her super-hot, broody, HOA rule-pushing neighbor, Nick.
I LOVED this book! It was so different than the normal books I have read! Both authors are so wonderful and when a romantic comedy is done flawlessly…you don’t want to pass it up! Every part of this book was so well written...from the characters (main and supporting) to the storyline to the twists and suprises to the romance…JUST ALL OF IT! I just seriously loved so much about this that I never wanted it to end. 5 LOL stars!
4.5 Star Review of Back In The Burbs by Tracy Wolff & Avery Flynn
I have read several books by Avery Flynn but Tracy Wolff is a new author to me and I have no idea why that is. From the first to the last chapter one I was fully invested in the story that Ms. Wolff and Ms.Flynn wove.
The writing was strong and the story flowed well. I have no idea which author wrote what or where one finished and the other took over, such was the ease of their writing. It was humorous, emotional, with characters you cannot help but fall in love with.
Inheriting her aunts house holds the key to Mallory getting her life back on track after a horrendous few months. After meeting her extremely grumpy and far from welcoming new neighbour Nick things don’t seem to be improving for Mallory.
However once Mallory and Nick got to know one another the story heated up. As their relationship developed Mallory grew so much and it was heart warming to watch her blossom.
Back In The Burbs is an enemies to lovers story and was an entertaining read that ticked the boxes for me.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley
3.5 Adjusting To Then Planned Stars
* * * 1/2 Spoiler Free-A Quick Review
It s not every day you have to deal with getting your cheating husband to become your ex, somehow now not having your NYC apartment or money or job. All of these things have just taken place front and center in Mallory's life.
And to add more pain and confusion, her Great Aunt Maggie, the only person on this earth who got her, has passed away. Yet, with this happening, it is like Maggie is reaching out to tell Mallory, things will work out, I've got a plan for you...I am giving you my house and you can re-invent yourself there.
Mallory decides to take Great Aunt Maggie's offer and even with the caveat Maggie threw in of it "needing a little work", Mallory is ready to take it on.
Little did Mallory realize what was about to happen...
She was going to go toe to toe with the bane of all home powers, the dreaded HOA. Yes, those people who like to make 67,000 rules over the stupidest things. She also didn't know the cute guy next door would be someone who likes rules and would point out all the things that needed to be done at their first meeting.
This was a fun, sweet, humorous, and heartfelt RomCom that also shared some real stuff about life and the people we love. Not everything we think about our loved ones is what happening...sometimes they may need a helping hand with things but don't want to ask. The life lesson is to reach out and make sure there is no judgment in our offers of assistance.
Perfect Spring Read!!
Pretty sure I not only have a new book boyfriend but I'm also ready to majorly spring clean this house of mine!! I loved both Mallory and Nick, but Nick just stole the show for me. The sexy tension filled banter was EVERYTHING!! Hilarious romantic comedy with tons of heart and wine!!
This was an amazing story. I was laughing my ass off, groaning, crying throughout the ENTIRE book.
Mallory has A LOT going on - she’s getting a divorce, her parents are pressuring her not to go through with it, and she inherited a huge house in desperate need of some love. Oh, and she doesn’t have a job and is broke! Mallory is such a strong woman in face of all the adversity she’s facing. I found myself relating to her and found her journey very inspiring.
Nick...what can I say about that fine specimen? My ovaries definitely agree with Mallory’s!! He sees his neighbor struggling and tries to help. But with all Mallory has going on, and is trying not to repeat past mistakes, she’s not exactly open to accepting help. The banter between these two is hilarious!
I didn’t know I was going to love this book so much, I definitely recommend it and will be re-reading.
BACK IN THE BURBS is a super funny and cute Enemies To Lovers romance!
Mallory is such a great female lead! She is quirky, hilarious, hard working, and trying desperately to "find herself" in her 30s after a 10-year marriage in which she gave up everything for her spouse and his needs. I loved the character growth we see in Mallory as she starts to stand up for herself with her controlling parents, her ex husband, and her grumpy neighbor.
And Nick is such a swoony grump! You will fall in love with him as his rigid rule-keeping snark begins to thaw and we see the great guy he is.
This book feels like a fairly light read, even as it covers some heavier topics like mental illness and love after loss. And there are so many laugh-out-loud moments that you never feel like this book is overly sad.
This is a slow burn that totally pays off with the epic steamy scenes! These two are Melt-Yo-Kindle Hot!
This book was a great read with lots of humor, some serious moments, lots of steam, and a perfectly sweet HEA.
I love, love, loved Back in the Burbs! I read it in less than 24 hours and enjoyed every minute.
Mallory is a mess and inherits a house that's an even bigger mess from a great aunt she idolized. She is recovering from a truly awful divorce (I would go so far as to say abusive); he's taken over her whole life until she's ready to sign divorce papers leaving her destitute and homeless. She believes his crap about not deserving anything and her family basically takes his side! But getting the house and the fresh start brings out the lioness in Mallory and I loved to see it!
Nick is the amazing counterpart to Mallory. He's big and sexy but kind and caring. He's befriended an old lady and kept an eye on her. He's smart and funny. They sort of start as enemies, but he quickly takes Mallory under his wing the way he had her great aunt.
While Mallory's growth and self-awakening isn't a unique take, the means of getting there are endlessly entertaining. Wonderful characters fill Mallory's life and add a lot of extra color to the story. From her great aunt to her direct family members (some of whom she didn't know about before the book), to Nick's family (his mom is amazing), they are all great.
I can't recommend this book enough. You'll laugh, you might cry, you'll definitely cheer for Mallory getting her life together, standing up for herself against her horrible ex, and for Nick and Mallory ending up together!
The best feel good book of the year! A woman, cheated on by her sleazy husband, inherits a run down home from her aunt. She’s given the largest pile of lemons and made it into the sweetest lemonade. She’s found herself, love, family and friendship thanks to her ex waking her up to the unhappy life she had and her Aunt Maggie playing matchmaker from the grave. It’s easy to enjoy this book because there is a truth for everyone in the words. Flynn has always been a favorite author for me and really enjoy her sassy characters with innuendo filled banter. Wolff is new to me but I am determined to find her books. Sometimes when two authors cowrite it’s obvious who wrote what, but I could not even tell there were two. They wrote seamlessly and gave us fun realistic characters stuck in a normal everyday situation but really made me love them. I hope they continue writing together, because I’m thinking Mikey and Sarah could have a thing, maybe? I was thrilled to get an advanced copy and wrote my review voluntarily.
I have read these authors before and really enjoyed their romances. This story was a big departture from what I have read of theirs before. I would class it more as women's fiction or chick Lit than Romance. Though it does have a romance and I really enjoyed the romance, its not the center point of this story. This is more of a story about a woman who finds herself after a horrible marriage to a horrible man and she is a success. Its more about girl/woman power and finding your power and following your heart.
The story is told entirely from Mallory's POV and well she is a riot and she made me laugh and giggle so much in this story. It starts off where her aunt Maggie has died and left her, her home but its in disrepair, the HOA is after the owner of the home and there are huge taxes on the home. Her father wants her to sell it and she refuses and she decides after a nasty divorce in process from her husband a lawyer to take possession of the house and try to turn it around.
Her neighbor is Nick and they start off as enemies but he eventually falls for her charms and they figure out a way for them to help each other and Mallory gets free labor from him and thats how they start to get to know each other and become friends.
I dored this story so much. I loved the main characters and even the supporting characters and cannot wait to read more from this series.
I absolutely enjoyed this book! Although I would classify this more as women's fiction than romance, it was such a relatable story that at times, it was difficult to continue reading... Such was my empathy towards Mallory. This book made me run the gamut of emotions, I wanted to scream at her and her family members, while also hugging her and bonking her on the forehead.
Nick is the quintessential cinnamon roll hero that I enjoy and we don't see enough of. Flawed, but inherently good! Both the book world and the real world need more Nicks, full stop,
The character development and arc in this book are fantastic. So often we see "ghosts" instead of fully fleshed-out characters, so I am glad this wasn't the case here.
Full of heart and humanity, Back To The Burb is both a reminder and a warning. A warning to not forget ourselves in the business of living, and a reminder to always live our lives to the fullest.
Five zebra-stripped stars to Back in the Burbs and Avery Flynn and Tracy Wolff
HJ Top Pick!
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.
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.
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!!