From neighbors to friends to lovers? All the makings of a risky second-chance romance by USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Tracy Brogan.Since Carli Lancaster’s divorce, she’s worked hard to keep life as normal as possible for her daughters. When she lands a job as cohost of a local morning show, it looks like a fresh start. So does the arrival of a handsome new neighbor, who … a handsome new neighbor, who has more in common with Carli than just a property line.
Ben Chase is also new to single parenthood. And like Carli, he’s focused on the future.
From navigating neighborhood gossip to decorating for holidays to reaching out in times of trouble, they quickly learn to rely on each other. Just like a couple but without the complications of coupling! Sure, there’s attraction. They’re only human. But they’re also friends, and who wants to ruin a perfect relationship with romance?
They’re both thinking about adding some perks, though, and even if their new normal isn’t perfect, it’s definitely somewhere in the neighborhood.
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Tracy Brogan never fails to tap into all my emotions! I laugh, I swoon, I get misty, all in the pages of her books. The New Normal has its laugh out loud moments (hi, Gus), but it’s also a sweet and sometimes bittersweet snapshot of real life. Brogan doesn’t pull punches with these characters even as she keeps the overall feel of the story light and hopeful, and the mix of emotions without heavy angst REALLY works here. I really felt what Carli and Ben were going through, and had a big smile on my face at the end!
So much fun. I have really developed a love for this author. This one takes on two newly divorced parents learning how to survive and coming together with a lot of whit and sass and at times some snark thrown in. Kudos for a great listen!
Oh, was this one ever a slow burn. I loved that it took a little bit for Carli and Ben to warm up to each other. Their friendship grew effortless, even though it wasn’t consistent. I liked that they both had divorce in common and that they took their time getting to know one another and their children. Their neighbors were hilarious but supportive and I loved reading about them. I also loved reading of all the changes that Carli and Ben went through to find their “new normal.”
The New Normal by Tracy Brogan is a story about second chances and new beginning. Both Carli Lancaster and Ben Chase are in their forties, divorced, and single parents. Neither is really looking for a relationship, but instead find a friendship the both enjoy. Even if there is just something else there. But what I loved was watching them maneuver their new normal as best they could. Definitely a slow burn romance with laughs and more.
Happy reading!
Wow! I’m kicking myself for not reading this sooner. I stayed up too late reading it, but no regrets (even for a Monday morning). Carli and her new neighbor, Ben, are both recent divorcees. If you’ve ever had a poorly behaved, large puppy, teenagers or been in a long-term relationship, then you’ll cheer for Ben and Carli as they find their way through their New Normal.
The New Normal by Tracy Brogan is the journey a couple of divorced, single parents take in defining their new life, post-divorce. This wonderful, heart-warming story contains Tracy’s trademark humor and realistic glimpse at the life her characters weave. Her characters will need to navigate the risks and obstacles a second-chance at romance will place in the path of her characters as they attempt to make sense out of their lives and reach out for a new normal direction for their lives.
Carli Lancaster has struggled to keep life as normal as possible for her teen daughters since her divorce. With her daughters no longer dependent on her it’s time for her to start living life for herself. Landing the job as one of the co-hosts of a local morning show is a definite start; so is the arrival of a handsome new next-door neighbor. Ben Chase is also new to single parenthood and like Carli, he’s focused on his future. Carli and Ben get to know each other as they decorate for the holidays, help each other in times of trouble or need, and adapt to the demands of the neighborhood. Being human, there is an attraction, or magnetism, between Ben and Carli; but these two friends fear risking their perfect relationship with romance. Maybe just adding some perks can help them as they navigate a new normal. Their new normal might not be perfect, but it works for them.
Ms. Brogan wrote a wonderful, heartwarming, amazing story, filled with sizzling chemistry, life challenges, humorous dialogue, and realistic characters that is definitely not to be missed. I totally enjoyed and highly recommend The New Normal to other readers.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
4.5 Stars!
The New Normal by Tracy Brogan is quite enjoyable. It is a clean read with well-developed characters that are easy to get to know. Although it is presented as a romance, it is a better fit for the woman’s fiction category. The two main characters are new neighbors, learning about life post divorce.
Carli Lancaster has been divorced for about 10 months. She has always put those she cares about first, forgetting that she is equally as important. Thanks to her good friends and her own realizations, she gets a new job and slowly makes the home that she once shared with her ex her own. In addition, she continues to be a terrific parent to her two high school age daughters.
As a result of his wife cheating on him with his best friend and business partner, Ben Chase is getting a divorce. He buys the house next door to Carli, and over time they get to know and depend on each other. Ben’s two kids become friendly with Carli’s, which helps his family accept their new surroundings. Ben and Carli share a flirtatious spark that evolves into more at the very end of the story.
This book flows at a nice pace. At times, the camaraderie and nosiness of the neighbors reminded me of Tim Allen’s film, Christmas with the Kranks. Overall, a wonderful story about picking up the pieces during and after divorce.
Complimentary copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
Loved everything about this book. A contemporary romance with fabulous characters all through out.
This was a fantastic read that kept me entertained all the way through. It’s a wonderful story of two people dealing with divorce, single parenthood, as they learn to trust and love again. Beautifully written with well developed characters, an easy pace, and a realistic storyline filled with humor and fun. Definitely one for the must read list! I highly recommend it.
I enjoyed this sweet romance by a new to me author. I liked the characters and the hard times they had to go through on their path to each other were entertaining. This was a nice change of pace.
Loved this book of a second chance romance. Carli is newly divorced with two teenage daughters, trying to keep things normal as possible even with Gus, the great dane. Ben, has just moved into the neighborhood, who is going through a divorce and also has two teenagers. A friendship strikes up, as they both try to pick up from their failed marriages. This friendship will lead to much more.
I had a hard time putting this book down, it will leave you smiling at the end. Many trials and tributes of being a single parent and feelings of children being in a divided household. This is a sweet romance, that is focusing more on starting over. I highly recommend this book.
The New Normal was an easy read, but it was a very slow burn in terms of the romance genre. I wouldn’t characterize it as women’s fiction, more like two people helping each other navigate the world, post divorce. There are some minor misunderstandings and missed opportunities, but no real drama or angst. Even the inevitable ex drama isn’t that dramatic, just annoying, and sort of predictable.
There isn’t even any kid drama with the four teens Ben and Carli have between them. Each is nice and levelheaded. Honestly, if I didn’t enjoy it so much, it would almost be boring. But it wasn’t and I enjoyed it a lot
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.
Two families starting over after their marriages withered and died, putting the pieces back together and learning what they want and need again. Slowly a friendship forms between Carli and her new neighbor. Attraction is there, but she is far from ready to do anything about it. She is not even sure he feels the same. Her girls are what matter, and training the beast of a dog she bought for her little family.
Ben was left devastated after his wife’s betrayal with his bestfriend. Moving on is not easy, but renovating his new house and finding out what he wants to do have a way of taking away the loneliness and pain. Especially in this new neighborhood with a new event or party atleast once a month and the neighbor he can’t stop thinking about. Easy read about two people starting over and learning what they want before they jump onto something new.
This is a sweet and very well written story about life for everyone involved after divorce. Carli, who is in her early 40’s is divorced and has 2 teenage daughters. She struggles trying to balance all aspects of life and struggling to coparent with her ex who it seems has moved on a lot faster than she seems to be able to. She meets her new neighbor Ben, who is around her age and working on a divorce himself. He has a teenage son who goes to school with her daughters and a daughter. Who is just a little younger than the other kids. This story focuses on how all of their lives are adjusting to their “new normal”. You can feel that at some point Ben and Carli will probably become romantically involved but that does not happen quickly. I actually really enjoyed that though. Their relationship grows more organically through friendship, neighborly bonding and similar life situations. And it seems they both needed each other for that more than anything else. Happy how it all turns out! I really liked this book!
Fun, flirty, steamy and sweet. This book will have you smiling from beginning to end. Tracy Brogan has a way with words and this stories are nothing less than brilliant and had me swiping the pages from start to finish. Couldn’t put this book down at all. This is a new author to me and I can 100% say I will definitely picking up more books by this author. Grab your copy today! Happy reading everyone!!
I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed reading this story about Carli and her new neighbor Ben. I enjoyed reading a book that I was able to relate better to. Carli is a mom of two teen daughters and Ben has two teenage children of his own. I appreciate the way they took their kids’ feelings into consideration before they decided to take a chance at a relationship.
This is a pretty realistic book based on “normal” issues we face.
The New Normal by Tracy Brogan a fantastic four-star read. This is a new to me author, but I will definitely be looking at what else they wrote as I enjoyed the overall style and character development. I enjoyed finding a new normal, as we went along with the characters as they each found new things some found new homes, careers, dogs, friendship, difficulties of divorce and finally romance. This Is a good story and one I am sure many will enjoy.
Carli has spent the last year of her post-divorce life focusing on her daughters and figuring out what she needs and wants. She hasn’t even thought about dating until her new neighbor moves in. Ben is new to single parenthood, having just split from his wife, he’s doing the best the can to make his kids feel comfortable in a very uncomfortable situation. Both could use a little help, who’s more perfect than your attractive neighbor.
The New Normal is less of a romance and more of a women’s fiction in my opinion. It focuses more on what life can look like post-divorce and dealing with all that comes with that. While Ben and Carli do end up together it’s a super slow burn as they get together at the end of the last chapter. It’s an easy read with minimal drama, lots of heart and some humor.