Did you ever hear the joke about the guy whose wife cheated on him with his best friend? So he quit his job, moved into his parents’ basement, and gained fifty pounds? No? Because that wasn’t a joke. It was my life. Four years later, I’m back with a dream job, a killer apartment, and a set of abs that are better than ever.So, when Maggie Light, a stunning, snarky blonde moves in next door, and … blonde moves in next door, and we spend the hottest weekend of our lives together, I think this could be the greatest comeback story ever.
That is until I realize Maggie has moved to town to do one thing—steal my job.
Maybe this isn’t a comeback story after all. Maybe this is war—one I intend to win.
What I never anticipated was that maybe I’d rather win her.
Perhaps, if I’m lucky, the universe has finally run out of jokes and I can somehow win both.
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This was a delight to read! It is the perfect light summer read. Shane and Maggie were both super fun characters and I totally loved the banter they constantly had going on.
Maggie is a character I was familiar with from having read Aly’s books but I am a new reader to Mo so it was fun getting to know Shane. He is awkward but unapologetic, and he quickly endeared himself to my heart. The chemistry between he and Maggie was instant and off the charts hot. Maggie is new to the city and Shane is finally getting out of the rut of working nonstop when they meet at a local bar. They really hit it off in a clumsy but exciting kind of way and their first date is so good! So imagine their surprise when they both walk into work on Monday morning and see each other there.
I have to say I really wasn’t on board with the way Shane’s sister and brother in law brought Maggie in behind Shane’s back. I understand their push to get him out of his rut, but they really did him wrong. But Shane being the go getter optimist, resolves to solve this dilemma he and Maggie find themselves in.
This really is a lighthearted read full of super witty conversations between Maggie and Shane. They are both so quick-witted and funny, I couldn’t keep the grin off my face while reading. And I loved getting to catch up with Maggie’s brother Heath. I just love his overprotective alpha big brother attitude. He’s a good dude.
If you’re looking for a read that will keep a smile on your face and have you giggling at the witticism and snark between two characters, this book is perfect for you! A highly entertaining story that I couldn’t get enough of.
NO SPOILERS!
M. Mabie and Aly Martinez wove a sweet, sexy, hilarious, swoon-worthy, and highly entertaining standalone romantic comedy in When the Walls Come Down, and I absolutely LOVED Shane and Maggie’s story!
Mabie and Martinez were a fantastic writing duo, and I loved their seamless prose and the story they created for Shane and Maggie. The neighbors-to-lovers/office romance tropes were fun and engaging, and the addictive and playful banter had me laughing out loud from start to finish. When the Walls Come Down had tons of heart, humor, heat, and an utterly irresistible romance I won’t soon forget.
The characters were phenomenal. I absolutely adored Shane and Maggie. They were AH-MAZING and had wonderful, lovable personalities. Shane and Maggie shared an instant spark, and their chemistry together was electric. I loved how their relationship progressed throughout, and as aforementioned in the paragraph above, their banter and interactions with each other were witty, playful, and hilarious, and I honestly couldn’t get enough.
When the Walls Come Down was a MUST READ collaborative effort from M. Mabie and Aly Martinez, and I absolutely loved Shane and Maggie’s sexy, hilarious, and swoon-worthy standalone neighbors-to-lovers/ office romance story! I can’t wait to read Mabie and Martinez’s next collaboration, When the Time is Right!
3.5-3.75 stars. When the Walls Come Down is a collaboration by authors Aly Martinez and M. Mabie. This was a pretty good book. This book is Maggie and Shane’s story. Shane is working for his brother-in-law, Casey’s family company as the head of marketing. Casey thinks that Shane is wasting his time and talents and should start his own marketing company. So he hires a new head of marketing for the company in order to give Shane the push he needs to go out on his own, only he doesn’t let him know. Maggie picks up her entire life and moves across the country to take the job for which Casey hired her. Before her first day, she meets Shane at a bar. They have an instant connection and like each other right away. It seems to be the start of a new, good relationship between them, but that all comes to a screeching halt when, on her first day at work, Shane finds out Maggie is taking over his job. The two have a lot to work through, but they manage to fall in love and come out together stronger on the other side.
I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book, but then I saw that it was described as a low angst, workplace rom-com, so I was expecting that. I didn’t find it to be particularly funny and I did find it to be pretty angsty and serious at times. Also, it took me until about 30% through to get into the book, because I found it started a bit slow. There is a lot of banter between the couple, but I didn’t find it super funny, like I think it was meant to come off as. I didn’t feel much chemistry between them for a while. But I did like them as characters and I came to think they were a good match. They both really liked each other and wanted to be together from early on when they met. Maggie has some family issues that make her desperate to be successful and not willing to give up this job opportunity without a fight. Shane also has baggage from his past relationship and is afraid to go out on his own just to fail. The two had a great connection that made it seem like they really should be together, but they were not willing to sacrifice their jobs, so they decided to just be friends. I felt the pain they had from not being able to be together. Neither of them is very confidant or act like they have everything together. They are just normal young adults trying to make the best decisions for their futures. They spent a lot of time denying that they could be together because of their circumstances and had to work hard to figure out a solution to their problem. I liked the book more and more as it went on. The end was really good and there is a cute epilogue. I was very happy that Maggie and Shane could work out their issues so that they could get the happy ending they deserved.
Overall, this is a good read. Shane and Maggie were really sweet together. I enjoyed their story and seeing their relationship develop. Ms. Martinez and Ms. Mabie make a good team. I look forward to more from them both in the future.
So much laughter, and of course some angst.just what I needed. This story is fantastic a must read.
What a cute, fun and endearing story. It’s been quite a while where I just thoroughly enjoyed a story like this one. I couldn’t put it down. The wit, humor and just all around joy this book brought will make this one I may go back to time and time again. It was just an all around delight to sit down and read. I don’t have much to say except that my only wish is that these two decide to write together again. They are a perfect fit and that perfection pours off these pages.
Alright, so I really enjoyed this one and it was mostly was because of Shane!
This is a standalone, but it’s main characters are very brief side characters from different series by each of these authors. I remember Shane as the divorced brother camping out on Blake’s parents couch during the Wake series. Never really gave him much thought after that. OMG, I loved him in this book! He’s this slightly nerdy, off his game because he’s been out of the game so long, but SUPER endearing hero. He has an instant connection with Maggie when they meet at the bar and their banter is so much fun. Was it a little insta-love? Yeah and both characters acknowledge this, BUT, I’ve had this instant connection before, the one where you just click and the back and forth banter is off the charts so I KNOW it exists, lol. You can fight me on that, ha!
I loved the progression of the story. Both characters are out of their element with the feelings they are having and it’s a case of a right connection, wrong circumstances type situation. This is a genuine dilemma, not contrived drama and you WANT them to figure it out so bad. It’s funny and swoony and sexy and just a really all around good romance. Highly recommend!
I loved this book, and it was just what I was in the mood for. It’s cute and funny with great characters.
Shane and Maggie – wow just wow! Aly Martinez and M Mabie’s collaboration is fun, sexy with great characters and story. From the moment they met to until the end their story was as close to perfect as it comes and I definitely recommend it.
When The Walls Come Down by M. Mabie and Aly Martinez is such a great collaboration with these two amazing authors. I loved this book. It was such a fun sexy read. Shane and Maggie’s story had humor and passion that keep you hooked and not able to put this book down. I highly recommend this book.!!
I absolutely loved Shane and Maggie! This book was so good. I loved the chemistry between the two characters. It was great to read a book that was humorous. I can’t wait for them to pair up again.
I absolutely adored this book!!! I have devoured every book Aly Martinez has written but this is my first taste of M.Mabie (sad I know lol) and these two together make one hell of a story! I loved everything about this book, I was hooked from beginning to end. I laughed, cried, swooned throughout reading. I get a feeling we will get more from this writing duo and I can’t freakin wait!!! I highly recommend this book to everyone and I can’t wait for more…well done!!
5 Tic-Tac Filled Stars!!!
This is my first book by M. Mabie but not Aly’s. I’ve read every book by Aly Martinez and they’re all on my favorite read.
Shane hasn’t had the best few years. He walked in on his wife sleeping with his best friend. He ended up not with no job and living in his parents basement and gained a ton of weight.
Shane’s sister and brother-in-law offered him a job at their company. Shane has worked hard at the gym losing a ton of weight. He’s also worked hard at his job and he’s done an amazing job.
One day outta the blue Shane’s sister and brother-in-law let him know that they feel even though he’s great at his job he’s still in slump. That he could be doing so much more then what he’s doing and with that they give him his notice. His replacement starts Monday and for a little while they want him to stay to make sure the transition goes smoothly. Shane has no idea what he’s going to do next.
Maggie lost her mom at a young age. Her brother practically raised her. She doesn’t wanna not live her life to the fullest so when Maggie gets this job opportunity she packs up her life and moves cross country to start anew.
The first night in her new apartment while on the phone with her sister she’s demand’s Maggie go out, have a drink, enjoy the night and go home with a man. No strings attached.
Maggie finds a cute tavern to go too. While there she meets Shane. Maggie instantly was attracted to him. Shane had no sense of the word boundaries lol, he was definitely awkward and Maggie couldn’t help but be attracted to him.
They agree to go out the following day but soon realize they’re walking to the same apartment complex and then a few min later they realize they’re next door neighbors. Neither Shane or Maggie want to say goodnight. Instead they spend the whole weekend together with the promise to meet that night for dinner.
After spending the weekend with Maggie, Shane realized his sister and brother-in-law were right! He’s not giving up his job without a fight. Then he walked into the conference room and he’s introduced to the person who took his job and Shane can’t believe his eyes when he’s starting into Maggie’s eyes.
Maggie and Shane don’t know how they could work. Maggie feels bad Shane got fired bc she accepted the jog offer that happened to be his job and Shane feels bad Maggie gave up everything and moved cross country by neither one of them wanted to give up the job either.
They’re both going to do their job and hope they’re the one to keep it in the end. But, when they’re home in their apartments alone is when everything gets to them. They find themselves sitting on their balcony’s where they can talk for hours.
They decide to start a relationship outside of work and keep things strictly professional during business hours. Maggie doesn’t want her coworkers thinking she’s with Shane to get the position.
Things with them were going smoothly. Both Maggie and Shane have real feelings for each other. Ever since Maggie walked into Shane’s life the shutters on his eyes opened and the light shined in and Shane realized how much he was missing in his life.
Shane realizes things are going to change. Only one of them can keep the job and the other one won’t. Shane does not wanna loose Maggie so he decides to do something that’ll make him happy in both his professional and personal life.
Shane’s a few years older then Maggie. Maggie’s not in the same place that Shane is and can’t think about the things he’s saying. Maggie freaks out and runs right into her older brother arms and away from Shane. Shane doesn’t wanna loose her and will do whatever it takes to get her back.
This was such a cute read!!! This is 1000% completely different then everything Aly Martinez has written. It was nice to see her write something different. I’m looking forward to picking up a book from M. Mabie. I’m excited to see this new writing duo comes up with next.
OOOh Loved this book and all the banter.
Maggie Light is leaving home to do something with her life, living for her mom who died when she was little. She has a big new job. She is going to live her best life.
She meets Shane by chance and they hit it off big first weekend in town and are neighbors.
The fun comes when they show up at work on Monday- she is the person replacing him at work but they had an incredible connection together over the weekend.
Loved these two characters as well as their family. I remember her brother Heath’s book.
So fun
“Make a move or move on…”
This is the exact type of read I needed. During this pandemic the last few weeks I have not been able to get into a book. Finally…a book I didn’t want to put down and just wanted more of.
“Be responsible next week. Go get arrested tonight.”
It had a little bit of everything…new beginnings, letting go, attraction, humor. Sassy ness, dirty flirting, regrets, uncertainty, friendship, family and more!
“I fell asleep begging God to let things go our way the next day because I didn’t know what I’d do if I lost everything…”
•℘•*´`*• 4.5 STAR REVIEW •*´`*•℘•
A chance encounter between seemingly complete opposites is the beginning of this sweet, feel good romance. When the Walls Come Down is the collaboration between two talented authors, their writing is so organic and seamless that the story meshes perfectly. I loved the characters; it was refreshing to read a story that featured a male character that had a previous weight problem caused by a broken heart and depression and a seemingly stronger and younger female character. The story is fast faced, funny, and a little emotional with a few surprises that caught me off guard, I loved this story!
Maggie Light had her heart set on leaving Atlanta the moment the ink on her two degrees was dry, despite her siblings’ misgivings. At twenty-four, she was moving to San Francisco after accepting the position as Creative Director at Bay Brewing, ready to live the life Maggie felt her mother had missed out on, after marrying so young and having five kids by the age of thirty.
Shane Warren had moved to San Francisco from Seattle four years ago to work for his sister and her husband after they offered him a job in a new business venture. Shane was single after a painful divorce, rarely dated and lived frugally; he spent his time working hard to make Bay Brewing the success it was now. So imagine his surprise when he was informed he was being let go, fired. Even if for the right reasons, he was not happy.
“I learned this lesson the hard way, but sometimes when you want something bad enough, you have to be willing to let everything else go.”
Maggie decided to take her sister’s advice to go out, have fun and cut loose, before starting her new job. After discovering a neighborhood bar/restaurant Maggie wanderer in to have a drink, or two. When she’s approached by a handsome but forward stranger she almost leaves until she discovers he was flirting with her, a little awkwardly, and is actually funny. Shane and Maggie decide to spend more time together and make plans for the weekend, after discovering they’re next door neighbors. Maggie is delighted with Shane; he’s a romantic at heart, surprising her with thoughtful little details. They discover they have a few things in common, including something that causes their new found relationship to skid to a stop, just as it was taking off.
“At that exact moment, the broken pieces of my heart shattered at my feet. Good, maybe without it, this wouldn’t hurt so bad anymore.”
They make a painful decision to keep things between them friendly and professional, until that doesn’t work out for either of them.
“I think he’s my person, but I don’t think I’m his.”
Full confession. I’ve been a huge fan of Aly Martinez for a long time, but I’ve never read a book by M. Mabie. However, I’m always in search of a new author that I can fall in love with their books, so there was no doubt in my mind I wanted to read this book. And it was EVERYTHING! It’s a bit of a rom-com with a bit of angst thrown in (but I promise, it’s not too heavy). With a hot, but oh so awkward hero, and a young but strong heroine, I was drawn in immediately. In romance, so often it’s all about the alpha male. So, it was quite different to have a hero that wasn’t so self-assured and was adorably tongue-tied…a LOT! And in a genre where a lot of the basic plots can seem like they are done over and over again, When the Walls Come Down was refreshingly different. During this time of unrest and heavy emotions, this was just the escape I needed and it was so well done.
I give When the Walls Come Down by Aly Martinez & M. Mabie 5 out of 5 stars!
When the Walls Come Down by M. Mabie and Aly Martinez is a wonderful co-written romance about making changes, adjusting expectations, letting your walls down and making the most of every moment.
Shane is in a rut. He doesn’t think he is, but his sister and meddling brother-in-law do and they also double as his bosses and have hired his replacement and are pushing him out the door. Shane is not happy about this, but hears what they are saying about him needing a change, so he takes a chance on a beautiful new face at the Two Ships restaurant his sister and BIL own and ends up having the best weekend of his life.
Maggie is moving – from Georgia to San Fransisco – all for a new job. Leaving her family behind and chasing her dreams and the path she believes her mother would have taken if circumstances had been different. Her first Friday night in town ends up with an encounter with a hottie, who also turns out to be her next door neighbor and who she is going on a date with the next day. San Fransisco may not be bad at all.
When these two realize that Maggie is the new hire meant to replace Shane, their beautiful weekend together and the blossoming relationship is threatened by the risk to their careers – now it’s a competition to see who actually gets to keep the job and may the best one win!
Loved it! Well-written and well-paced, told in dual POV, filled with both angst and humor, emotion and heat, a great summer read. Enjoy!
If you’re a fan of Aly Martinez you might be side-eyeing the word comedy being used to describe a book she has written and I think that would be a very fair side-eye. I have read damn near every word this woman has published out there and comedy is not a word I would even think she knows the definition of LOL I trusted nothing and went in complete prepared for deep emotional trauma because let’s face it, she’s really frikkin outstanding with the emotional trauma and it is most certainly what she normally delivers. amirite?!
HA! fooled me!
Holy WOW you guys. Aly Martinez and M Mabie (which btw I had never read before but I will!!) have given us one of the best feel-good romances I have read this year! It is brimming with sentimentality and emotion, but in no way is it traumatic or heavy! The humor behind the story-line and between our leads is a thing of beauty. The ease in which the story unfolded was a work of art. THIS STORY IS AMAZING!!!
4.25 stars
I adored this one!
Aly Martinez usually writes angsty and twisty books so I was wondering how’d a rom com would be from her and it was great! M. Mabie isn’t an author I’d known about before but I will definitely be checking her stuff out now.
Shane Warren gets the rugged pulled out under him, when he’s told he has to give up his job by his brother in law. His family think that Shane needs to stop working so hard and live a little, expand his horizons. Maggie Light is the new girl woman in town. Recently graduated, She’s moved away from her family to achieve her dreams.
Maggie and Shane both have their share of baggage and issues, their past shapes their current outlook. When they first meet, they don’t know how intertwined their life is going to get. Maggie and Shane spend a wonderful weekend together, not realising that once thats over, their careers will also be on the line and that they will have to fight each other for it.
This was a throughly enjoyable read, I really loved the banter, the humour, the sweet and passionate moments they had. Regardless of them meeting only a few days ago, I think the authors did a great job at establishing their connection to one another. I liked how they dealt with fighting for the same job bit, it was mature, didn’t involve dirty tricks etc which made this book and the couple work more because you can see the push and pull of wanting the job but also each other, plus they respected each other and didn’t want to hurt one another.
Maggie and Shane from the very awkward meet cute, to their non romantic first date to them falling for each other was very enjoyable. They just clicked, they got each other. Their relationship changes from fun, lightheartedness to finding out they are competing for the same job and now theres tension and attraction they can’t act on. They had great chemistry, their relationship had ups and downs to keep the reader engrossed.
I really loved Shane, he was a wonderful hero. He’s a nice guy. He really tired like all the time. His past had a huge effect on him obviously not just his confidence but also changed all other aspects of life. I felt his the way his family was trying to get to him to be more than just about work was just harsh, their heart might have been in the right place but it just ended me not liking like them. Literally wouldn’t have hurt to actually properly talk to him then just make decisions for him. He was genuine and forthright, yes he makes mistakes but owns up to them and works through them. He is quite different from the heroes I’ve been reading recently, in a good way that also makes you want to protect from the hurts you can see will be coming his way because of his openness. Shane had finally found his person, Maggie who made stop being all about work and he’d give anything to make things work. For me, When the Walls Come Down is really his book.
Quibbles: I think the only things that I didn’t like was one when Shane thought about getting people fired cause they how treated Maggie, I get where he was coming from but it wasn’t Chris’s fault, the man didn’t know and at the end of the day its his employment as wait staff so it just didn’t sit right with me. Also I don’t know but they way its talked about Shane being fat in the book, it just didn’t sit right me. The other thing wasn’t so much a quibble, obviously it had purpose so I didn’t hate it but it did pack a punch and it made me angry/going for a tailspin which is what I think what was desired…
Overall, I really enjoyed this co-authored book, its soft, sweet, flirty and funny with the addition of tugging at heart strings! Anyone looking for a light rom com with heart, low angst would enjoy this one.
Review on Blog
*ARC
Aly Martinez and M. Mabie did an amazing job with this collaboration. Two worlds brought together in a flawless, whitty, couldn’t put it down book. Maggie and Shane were made for each other and I am in awe of how well these two authors brought this book to life. Their writing styles are so similar, it’s impossible to tell that it’s not one author. I absolutely loved these characters and this story and am now finding myself looking for more from both these ladies