Release Day Review: Back in the Burbs by Avery Flynn and Tracy Wolff @AveryFlynn @TracyWolff @EntangledPub #Contemporary #Romance

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 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 ever again.

First rule of surviving the burbs? There is nothing that YouTube and a glass of wine can’t conquer.

ASIN: B088PY2JPS

Publisher: Entangled: Amara 

Publish Date: March 30, 2021

Print length: 326 pages

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My Review:

Back in the Burbs is a laugh-out-loud romantic comedy with some drama thrown in for good measure. The main character, Mallory, found her successful lawyer husband eating lunch in the downtown region of his paralegal and their impending divorce has stripped her of just about everything. She slinks back to her parents' in New Jersey and that's not the worst thing. Her favorite aunt, Maggie, passed away. The only silver-lining in this dumpster fire of Mallory's life is the house Maggie bequeathed to her. Until she gets to the house. The dumpster fire just increased in size and intensity. Determined to make a go of things, even without a job, or money, Mallory is convinced her life is going to change. She can take care of herself and doesn't need anyone - especially a man - to help her.

She clings to that sentiment as she wades through a massive number of HOA infractions, warnings, and threats (firmly cementing the fact that I could never live where an HOA exists). She clings to that sentiment after meeting her uptight neighbor with a thing for the rules. She clings to that sentiment until...well, she doesn't. It's a hard pill to swallow when she realizes that asking for help or having help offered is a whole lot different than being told what to do or having things done for you with purely selfish motives in mind. Her soon-to-be ex-husband did a number on Mallory over the past 10 years. The authors did a fantastic job describing a broken woman who did everything in her marriage to keep the peace, while the man (and I use that term loosely) continued to take advantage.

Mallory is great and I found her easy to relate to and completely likable. Mallory's inner monologues were brilliantly written, realistic, and snarky.  Nick is equally great, and I loved how the authors developed him. The interactions between Mallory and Nick begin strained but evolve into something more. Both have baggage and I loved watching them explore and learn about each other. They have chemistry from the start, and I love how it was explored. The secondary characters, especially Sarah and Nick's parents, were amazing, as well.

In true Avery Flynn fashion, this book has so much snark and wit and I enjoyed every single minute. I love the co-writing of Avery Flynn and Tracy Wolff. Both authors top my favorites and must-read lists and together they created a masterpiece in the contemporary romance genre. The authors created a fun story with excellent characters who are full of life, personality, ambition, and emotion. They brought out the emotions of the characters in a way that the reader will run the gamut with them. The book is perfectly paced, written well, and the setting and world building expertly descripted and set up. I read this book in one day because once I started, I was hooked. 

I was provided a copy of this book to review.

My Rating: