Two powerhouse authors bring you a hilarious tale of one woman’s journey to find herself again.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 … 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.
First rule of surviving the burbs? There is nothing that YouTube and a glass of wine can’t conquer.
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**I received a copy of Back in the Burbs from Entangled Publishing and Net Galley in exchange for a voluntary and honest review. My opinions are my own and not solicited in any way.**
Back in the Burbs by Avery Flynn and Tracy Wolff was an absolute joy to read and I wish I could give it more than five stars. Growing up my Auntie was exactly like Aunt Maggie maybe not extreme but her house had a path to the bedrooms and bathroom. When she passed we found quite a lot of magazines, newspaper clippings and we won’t talk about what was in the tea pot…yep a petrified mouse. I loved Aunt Maggie’s chest of surprises though that was hilarious!
Mallory Martin Bach in the midst of a divorce from her soon to be ex-cheating hubby, unemployed and needing to rebuild her life but her Aunt Maggie just passed away and left her house to her which includes several HOA violations. Her neighbor grumpy Nick with a cute dog and a lawn fetish but he also help Maggie out when she needed it but when Mallory decides to keep and clean out the house of all of its junk (I LOVED the name of the tins in the kitchen), he’ll also step in when said Ex shows up plus offer her a job. Plus who wouldn’t love a purple caddy named Jimi? When Nick is hired for a dollar and helping Mallory clean out the house I fell in love with this couple. There will be ups and downs with Mallory helping run Nick’s law office plus meeting his family is very funny indeed. This book was fantastic and worth reading way into the wee hours of the morning because I just had to find out what happened on the next page.
I really hope that there’s a book about Mal’s new half sister Stacy and maybe Mikey?
Oh my gosh, I don’t think I can say enough about this book!!! Back in the Burbs by Avery Flynn and Tracy Wolff is everything you didn’t know you needed! It’s got humor, self-reflection, a hot guy, a hot guy that listens, did I mention a hot guy?! No, really when Mallory catches her husband in an uncompromising position with his paralegal, she decides to find herself again. At the reading of her Aunt Maggie’s will, she comes to find out she is the new owner of a run-down, old house that needs a lot of TLC. Little does she know that the neighbor across the street would be the knight in shining armor she doesn’t any any help from. Gah, I really could continuously gush about this book but I will just leave it at, you need to read this book!! Coming out March 30th!!!!
You will love Mallory and Nick!
Mallory left her husband after she found him with his assistant plus her Great Aunt Maggie died leaving her house in the suburbs. She thought it would be a better place to live even with all the HOA violations. Only it wasn’t so simple with a house in shambles and junk to clean out and a cute guy fixing up her house plus Nick Holloway who just happens to live across the street.
If you want a book that will make you laugh at someone’s mid-life disaster this is the book for you! I love to read Avery Flynn and Tracy Wolff so when I found out they had written a book together I had to read it because you will laugh and a few moments will make you want to drink along with Mallory and her friends when they have to deal with life in the suburbs.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
4.5 stars
Avery Flynn and Tracy Wolff knock the ball out of the park with their hilarious and heartfelt collaboration, Back in the Burbs.
Mallory Martin Bach (soon to be Martin once again) has reached the end of her rope. She’s in the throes of a nasty divorce with her cheating, gaslighting soon-to-be ex-husband who is actively trying to ensure that she leaves their ten-year marriage with nothing. She’s been kicked out of her home, is jobless, and worst of all, her favorite great-aunt just died. But when she’s bequeathed her aunt’s home in her will, Mallory takes it for the second chance that it is… multiple HOA violations and grumpy, hot, neighbors aside.
This book was an utter delight to read, and one I could envision easily adapted to film. Flynn and Wolff balance the delicate edge of angst and humor as Mallory’s story unfolds. Told entirely from Mallory’s POV, this story is all about her process of coming into herself and allowing herself to start over at the age of 35. It’s frustrating to be inside her head sometimes, but it allows the reader to really get an insight into how much deprogramming Mallory really has to undergo in order to heal.
Nick Holloway is a delightful, compelling hero, and while I would have loved to have been able to read chapters from his perspective, I think the narrative choice to keep it single POV was the right one. He’s not a caricature, nor is he a savior, and I love his humanness and his vulnerability. The slow burn of Mallory and Nick’s chemistry is delightful to read.
I also enjoyed the secondary characters that are introduced, and have some hope that perhaps Flynn and Wolff may revisit this universe in the future.
Overall, I wholeheartedly enjoyed this novel, and recommend it to anyone who loves a witty and sincere read. Be prepared to laugh some laughs and feel some feels!
An ARC was generously provided by Entangled and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Oh Dear – Mallory just can’t escape lawyers, can she?!?! Daughter of a lawyer, soon to be ex of a slimebag lawyer and now the hottie neighbour from hell is also a lawyer!
Mallory is striking out on her own. When she inherits beloved great-aunts home, she also inherits a pile of HOA violations. But money is tight and her skills are, well, more suited for an office than DIY. But she soon finds that between old school friends, mates rates with a hunky builder and the weirdly helpful neighbour/lawyer/HOA member. Mallory may have bitten off more than she can chew!
Nick is a fab lead. You routinely swing from loving him to wanting to hit him (whilst still loving him LOL). He just lives for his rules. But when he breaks more than a few of them with Mallory, well, let’s just say that this lawyer could look at my briefs any time! He does have a wonderful backstory and his parents are a riot. Mallory is a great balance of slighted wife, a hidden female warrior and office mage. She can organise anything and has a knack with clients.
Was totally absorbed from the start and read in one go. The “Mr President” thing just tickled me and I kept snorting even after I finished the book. Warm-hearted & funny, sweet without being slushy.