Melissa Ferguson’s new novel proves that good fences make good neighbors–and that sometimes love and hate share a backyard.Bree Leake doesn’t want to be tied down. She’s had more jobs than she can count–and the next stop on her journey is The Barter, the nation’s oldest live performance theater in Abingdon, Virginia. But just when it’s time to move on again, Bree’s parents make her an offer; … parents make her an offer; hold steady in Abingdon for one full year, and they will give her the one thing she’s always wanted–her grandmother’s house. Her dreams are coming true . . . until life at the theater throws her some curve balls.
And then there’s her new neighbor. Chip McBride.
For the first time in her life, she’s met the person who could match her free-spirited air–and it’s driving her to the ledge of sanity. She would move heaven and earth to have him out of her life, but according to the bargain she’s struck, she cannot move out of her house and away from the man who’s making her life miserable. So begins Bree’s obsessive new mission: to drive Chip out of the neighborhood–and fast.
Bree isn’t the only one who’s a wee bit competitive, and as Chip registers what Bree’s up to, he’s more than willing to fight fire with fire. But as their pranks escalate, the line between love and hate starts to blur.
In Melissa Ferguson’s latest rom-com, two enemies find something they never expected in one another–taking “all’s fair in love and war” to a hilarious and heartwarming new level.
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I love a good clean rom-com! Melissa delivered a book that is filled with both humor and heart!
The Cul-de-Sac War by Melissa Ferguson is, in my humble opinion, a perfect Contemporary Romance. This story is so engaging and engrossing I literally lost time. Reading hours passed in minutes. I absolutely adore Bree and Chip and their insta-attraction-hate-love relationship. I found the pacing between the insta-attraction to hate to friendship to admitting romantic feelings very well done. Nothing feels too soon or too unrealistic. The pranks Bree and Chip pull on one another were some parts shocking and all parts hilarious. This story made me laugh out loud, but it also brought tears to my eyes. The Cul-de-Sac War illustrates real life — life-like characters, real-life issues and struggles, and real-life mistakes — and I appreciated that in this fictional escape. It turns out, this story was the cathartic read I didn’t even know I needed. Truly, The Cul-de-Sac War is a must-read story!
There really is so much to love about this novel. Ferguson brings up several compelling themes. I particularly appreciate the discussion on the dream of life we have when we are young versus reality. When we are young, for the most part, we dream about the golden-age of adulthood. We imagine this golden-era of adulthood as being a rosy-colored time of prosperity, freedom, and friendship and love. We imagine amazing well-paying jobs, fun nights out with friends, and falling in love with “the one.” But reality is different. I’m not sure there ever is a “golden-age” of adulthood. Don’t get me wrong, there are some seriously amazing moments that take place during the adult years: meeting new friends, being promoted at your job, falling in love with your spouse, holding your child for the first time, etc. These are all amazing moments, but that’s all they are — moments. In reality, adulting is hard. It’s dealing with bills, illnesses, family turmoils, politics, waking up EVERY DAY to go to work, making dinner, budgeting, and recognizing that life is NOT stable ever. Chip, the superb hero of The Cul-de-Sac War, has dreams. He wants the house, the girlfriend, and the job. He is absolutely willing to put in all the hard work to get these things, but life constantly chooses to go against Chip’s perfect plans, and it’s so frustrating. But that’s the point. We humans are not in control. We live in a fallen, unstable world. The only thing we have control over is HOW we behave and act as life hits us in the face every day. While Chip does sort of understand this fact because life has hurt him some in the past, it is fun as the reader to watch as Chip navigates his life and his plans once he meets Bree. Boy, is his life turned upside down!
The Cul-de-Sac War is a seriously excellent Contemporary Romance. I cannot recommend this book enough. It’s well-written, witty, hilarious, and romantic. It’s not standard fluff, but rather it’s full of substance. I implore you to purchase a copy today. You won’t be disappointed you did!
I received a copy of this novel in eBook form from the publisher, Thomas Nelson, via NetGalley, in order to review. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Knocked down – dragged out fun! The Cul-de-sac War by Melissa Ferguson was one of the cutest, funniest books I’ve read in a while. This book was lighthearted and just what I needed right now. Maybe you’re looking for something like that right now too. This year has been pretty serious but, this book will make you forget all of that for a while.
There is not only humor, a lot of warmth oozes out of the families. They truly care for each other. The war is between a woman named Bree and her neighbor whose name is Chip. They play some pretty good pranks on each other. When push comes to shove, they pull through for each other. I loved these two.
The writing flows and I found myself flipping pages to find out what happened next. Then, all of a sudden I found myself at The End! I was sad to come to the conclusion and wanted the book to continue. I wanted more of a good thing!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher for a fair and honest review.
The Cul-de-Sac War by Melissa Ferguson is a great romantic comedy that had me laughing out loud and reminded me of how we often tend to find opposites to love. The main characters Chip McBride and Brea Leake are fun loving and passionate people who are in over their head before they know it. They battle each other by their one upping antics and the story gets funnier and funnier. The secondary characters were quirky and delightful and honestly just fun to get to know.
I recommend The Cul-de-Sac War by Melissa Furguson for its wonderful characters, laugh out loud humor, and sweet romance that will make you smile. I would grab a copy for some laugh therapy.
I was given a copy by the publisher and not required to write a positive review.
I loved this wonderful romantic comedy!
Both of the main characters are extremely well developed. They each have some self doubts. Most of them are connected to family issues. I enjoyed seeing their growth by the end of the book as they dealt with their families.
Then there is a large dog that throws in a lot of hilarious moments and initiates the conflict between Bree and Chip. The ideas that they both come up with for pranks to pull on each other are amazing. I wouldn’t want to live by either of them and have them decide to prank me.
Add to that the problems that they are both dealing with in the jobs and I found this book to be very entertaining.
The narrator did a fabulous job of making the story come to life. She was a lot of fun to listen to because she managed to sound different for each character when they were speaking. Alternating chapters are written from the viewpoint of Bree and Chip. That means that she had to speak from two distinctly different voices for large portions of the book. It was incredible. I will be looking for more audiobooks that she has narrated.
I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook from the publisher, through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All of the opinions expressed are my own.
Disclaimer: *Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book for free in the hope that I would mention or review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion – which I have done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*
I listened to the audio version of this story. The narrator did a very good job and I enjoyed her narration style. It was lively and entertaining.
It took me awhile to get into the plot of this book. The misunderstandings and pranks between Bree and Chip were definitely juvenile and that had me on edge for a bit. However, I lightened my grasp on reality and decided to just enjoy the silliness of it all and began to enjoy the story much more, including many moments where I laughed out loud.
The later portions of the book had some really good, heart-tugging scenes between the main characters, making them much more likable to me than earlier in the story. I especially liked the epilogue.
I couldn’t really find much of a faith thread in this book. Just a mention of characters going to church. I would, personally, call it a clean read. I could see this book being enjoyed by Christian fiction readers as well as by general market readers.
I received a complimentary copy of this audio book. All opinions are my own.
What a delightful laugh-out-loud romantic comedy! If you’re looking for a fun escape and some good laughs with sweet & funny characters, look no further than “The Cul-deSac War” by Melissa Ferguson! I really enjoyed this book.
This was a fun, cute and quick read. The characters were fun and the storyline was funny. They did some awful but hilarious things to each other. I’m not a huge fan of contemporary, but this one kept my attention and best of all it was very clean. Nothing in this book made me uncomfortable or nervous to have my mom pick up and read. I got to listen to an audio version of this book and the narrator did an AMAZING job. The story didn’t drag and her voice was pleasant to listen to.
THE FINE LINE BETWEEN LOVE AND HATE
Melissa Ferguson has written two of my favorite rom-coms in the last year, The Dating Charade and now the delightful The Cul-de-Sac War. Ferguson’s characters are so relatable that you feel like they have become your close friends by the end of the novel. They are just normal. They are people just going through life, trying to make their way, in spite of some false starts and wrong turns and they make you want to cheer them on to becoming their best!
Ferguson introduces us to Bree Leake, a free spirit who has had multiple jobs in attempting to discover her passion. Her latest landing is at The Barter, the nation’s oldest live performance theater in Abingdon, Virginia. When that gig is up, her parents make her an offer she thinks she cannot refuse. If she can hold down a job there for a year, she can have her Grandmother’s house! It is a DREAM come true — until it quickly is not.
Enter the new neighbor in the cul-de-sac, Chip McBride. Oh, Chip is mighty fine looking. The kind of guy that distracts you and makes you do incredibly stupid things like burn your breakfast while sneaking looks at him out of your windows! He is also very nice. So what is the problem you ask? His D.O.G. Not just any dog mind you, rather a dog the size of a small car! If that is not bad enough, the dog has a Mad Crush on Bree!! His love for Bree is all consuming to the point she cannot even get out of her car in her own driveway! Bree finally gives Chip an ultimatum to install an underground fence. He almost meets the deadline. She is okay with things until someone mentions it is TELEPHONE WIRE in the trench and not Invisible Fence Wire! Let the Games Begin! From this point on, it is all out WAR to best the other in pranks to drive each other CRAZY. The antics are hilarious! And, of course, with each new prank, they become even more devious! While waging the War, Bree and Chip are each fighting for their Big Break in their careers. They finally are forced to take a step back and take a look at how over the top their attacks have become. Upon further reflection, have they become obsessed with the War or with each other?? A truly delightful read!
I was provided a complimentary copy of this novel by Thomas Nelson Publishers & NetGalley. The opinions expressed here are completely my own and without influence.
A laugh out loud, romantic comedy. I enjoyed every aspect of the Cul-de-Sac War! The clear attraction from the start, followed by the misunderstandings that lead to all-out war were a perfect balance of tension and sweet fulfillment. There is plenty of backstory to both characters that adds an unexpected depth to the story as well. The supporting characters, especially the dog, add a lot of balance to the gamut of emotions experienced in this book. I found myself genuinely laughing at the antics of Bree and Chip and the cringe-worthy situations they found themselves in. Above all, I loved their ability to rise above it all and find what truly matters most. I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own, freely given.
This was soo much fun!! Oh my goodness.
Bree’s just an easy-going girl trying to keep her job at the theater. At the first of the book she meets a handsome guy and is attracted to him… until she later realizes he’s her new next-door neighbor who is out to ruin her life.
Chip’s just moved into his new run-down house, planning to fix it up. What he doesn’t plan is for one mistake to lead to a full-on war with his beautiful but clearly insane new neighbor. But if that’s the way she wants to play it, he’s in.
After weeks of despising each other, things start to change. But is it possible that in the end they’re actually falling for each other?
I had soo much fun reading this book. Goodness, it was hilarious. I laughed out loud several times, grinned pretty much nonstop, and even facepalmed a few times *hello second-hand embarrassment*
Seriously, it was just so comical and crazy and fun. I might have liked this even more than The Dating Charade.
I really loved the characters. Chip and Bree were so great together.
I loved how Bree just wanted to ruin his life but he just got a kick out of driving her crazy. It was the best.
There were so many things that I liked.
Russel’s (the dog’s) obsession with Bree was hilarious. All of the pranks. The notes on the window. Gerald and Evie.
Bree’s parents! oh my goodness, they had me rolling. Especially the dinner.
I could go on…
But as much as I love all of the hilarity, I also loved the deeper message I got from the book. I really like how Melissa Ferguson gives you a balance of the hilarious stuff but also incorporates a deeper meaning to the story. I feel like the message in this one was so well-timed for me to read. It hit me in a way I didn’t expect. Although there wasn’t much faith content, I think I got the message she was trying to get across and I really got it.
I’m new to rom-coms but I’m really glad I tried Melissa’s out. They’re the perfect reads for when you just need a break from the world. They’re just fun, crazy, and hilarious but they’ve got a deeper meaning too.
Also, it was clean. YESSS, thank youuu to the author!!!
I’m always a little nervous about reading a book about adult’s because I’m afraid it’s gonna be unclean or make me uncomfortable in some way. But nope. This was completely clean. Sigh… that makes me really happy!
Anyways, I would recommend this if you’re looking for a fun read!
“I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.”
The Cul-de-Sac War is a hilarious romance that will have you in stitches even as you shake your head.
I’d be lying if I said Bree and Chip didn’t come off a bit immature at times. But, in an odd way, that was part of The Cul-de-Sac War‘s charm. Their banter and adolescent pranks created plenty of humor. By alternating between Bree and Chip, Ferguson does a great job of giving the reader a better look at the full story through two unreliable narrators. Neither one can see the full picture, and the misunderstandings leave the reader with a lot to think about.
Ferguson also mangers to convince the readers why Bree and Chip are perfect for each other. As you laugh at their rivalry, you know they should be together. I found myself at times wanting to shake them. But they came around soon enough.
The Cul-de-Sac War isn’t overly religious, but there are enough undertones that Christian readers will notice and appreciate. A reader who isn’t Christian may not pick up on it, which makes this novel a great choice to share with your friends, even if you aren’t sure where they stand with the Lord. At one point, two characters engage in a conversation about how we are meant for something greater than this world. I loved the vulnerability in this scene, and I think it would make a great conversation starter with someone new to Christian ideals.
(Note: I received a complimentary copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)
Let me start by saying that I highly recommend this book. But I might suggest not reading the book in public. I attempted to do just that, but I was laughing so hard that I was crying and almost hyperventilating. All I know is that Melissa Ferguson might be an interesting person to know in real life because the “friendly” pranks played by the next door neighbors on each other were hilarious. That is definitely a key element of the book. Due to certain circumstances, Bree Leake and Chip McBride decide they do not want to be next-door neighbors. Rather than communicating, they each try to scare each other out of the neighborhood. The porch scene in particular is epic.
But this book is more than a slapstick comedy. This book also has heart. Both of the main characters have to figure out how to deal with life when circumstances do not go as planned. They have to to adjust. And when they take a step back, they also realize that they can relate to each other more than they thought. There is genuine grief over loss that is accompanied by the promise that someday (at least for those who believe in Jesus as Savior) that everything wrong will be made right again.
Beyond the two “leads,” there are other relationships that matter to the storyline. The extra cast of characters is definitely enjoyable. A few characters are hold overs from Ferguson’s first book, “The Dating Charade.” Cassie is Bree’s best friend in this title. This friend’s family also plays a cameo appearance. Both character’s families are included along with a cast from the theater. I do like the fact that the relationships are not purely centered on how the two main characters connect with each other. Adding extra people makes the story more interesting.
Truly I cannot wait to see what Melissa comes up with next. What I do know is that it will be a must-read story for me. A big thank you to NetGalley and to Thomas Nelson for allowing me to read a copy of this book early. I definitely wanted to review this one, and all opinions are my own.
Freaking Hilarious. For me, this book was the first in a while that had me literally laughing out loud and seemingly nearly literally laughing my tail off. And since it marked book 148 on the year (and thus somewhere north of 500 during the current US Presidency)… yeah, that’s saying something. 😀 Probably not “Christian” enough for the “Christian Fiction” crowd, so attempting to market that direction is probably a misnomer. But for the “clean”/ “sweet” romance crowd, yeah, this will work. I could have done without a particular element of the epilogue. (Seriously, why do so many romances have to go *there*? I’d rather see explicit, hyper-kinky sex on page than *that*.) But beyond that particular quibble (which is probably about as common as my childfree married male in his late 30s status – which is, not very at all), this really was a fun book and a perfect rebound from the hyper-darkness of the book I read before it. Which also makes it a great rebound for whatever you may be feeling when this releases one week after the current US Presidential Election. And yes, that means this is an ARC read, with all that that entails. In the end, truly funny and fun, and very much recommended.
With her sophomore novel, Melissa Ferguson delivers hilarity and heart in equal measure. The Cul-de-Sac War’s Bree Leake and Chip McBride prove that sometimes it isn’t the first impression you have to worry about—it’s the second one that gets you. What follows is a delightful deluge of pranks, sabotage, and witty repartee tied together by the heartstrings that connect to turn a house into a home worth fighting for. I was thoroughly charmed from beginning to end.
The CUL- DE- SAC WAR by Melissa Ferguson.
I belong to lots of book groups on Facebook and I do follow bookstagrammers on Instagram. I have seen photos of this book so much that I was overly delighted to get a copy from the publisher through NetGalley. I am so glad!
The first two pages drew me in. I was mentally prepared for the journey I will delve into the book pages.
Melissa Ferguson writes well considering the fact that this is the first book of hers that I am reading and I am so PLEASED!
This is such a sweet book full of fun and humour.
I love Chip and Bree.
You can’t help following their story. If you want to enjoy stories about neighbors in the same neighborhood, I highly recommend this book.
I am rating it 5 stars.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Fiction through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are mine.
Just love Melissa Ferguson books, they are so upbeat and funny with a great story. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good novel that has everything in it. Loved the ups and downs between these two neighbors who seemed to be in love-unlike/frustration relationship. (don’t want to use the word hate). Loved his dog…oh he was so funny. There are so many great parts to this book and it just flows so well that before you know it your finished!
This book was not for me at all. I had a hard time getting into it, honestly I don’t feel like I ever got into it. It felt very chaotic and way too much going on, making it hard to keeping up. Over all this book was not for me. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Melissa Ferguson has such a way of writing sweet, humorous stories! The main characters were lovable, and the pranks they played on each other will have you laughing so hard. But there’s more than just humor in this story. There are also heartfelt moments as Bree and Chip face some difficult personal issues.
**I received this complimentary copy from Netgalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.**
This is one of those romcoms featuring a lovable, captivating Hero and an annoying, irritating Heroine. Fortunately, Chris is so entertaining that his strengths overcome Bree’s weaknesses, making this a pretty fun read overall.
The titular “war” turns out to be a series of pranks between Bree and Chris, neighbors on–you guessed it–a cul-de-sac. They meet cute when she has a wardrobe malfunction while appearing in a play in town, but her interest quickly turns sour when she decides Chris is The Enemy. There isn’t much mystery as to whether these two will fall for each other; Chris’s feelings for Bree are immediate and clear, as are hers for him. But first they have to act like they hate each other, which leads to a sort of oneupmanship in pranking.
The heat level in this book is pretty low, but if you want feelings and reactions to feelings, Melissa Ferguson takes care of you. You will laugh out loud during some parts, and you may join me in wanting to shout at Bree to JUST STOP.
I listened to the audiobook, and Kate Rudd did a solid job. I enjoyed listening to her, and there were times she almost made me forget how irritating Bree could be.