Name: Back in the Burbs
Rating: 3.8 (25 reviews)
ISBN: 9781682815694

Avery Flynn

A brand-new, laugh-out-loud rom-com from USA Today bestselling author Avery Flynn, featuring three single women just trying to find love and live life in the 'burbs.

Back in the Burbs

kels

In the middle of a divorce from her lawyer husband, Karl, who has been cheating on her, Mallory finds out that her Great Aunt Maggie has left her the house where she spent so much time as a kid.  Unfortunately, the house isn't the way she remembers it, and Mallory quickly realizes that before her death, Aunt Maggie had become a hoarder and let her house become an eyesore.  When her neighbor, Nick, delivers the news that Maggie's house has violated several HOA ordinances, Mallory adds that to the many other expenses that she can't afford.  

Back in the Burbs is a humorous novel about a woman trying to overcome years of oppression by finding her voice and her future.  It is easy to question many of the decisions Mallory makes as she tries to figure out what she wants out of life.  Quirky supporting characters add to the story, but it would have been nice to see even more of those characters throughout the book.  Also, the romance between Mallory and Nick is an important part of the plot, but it takes a backseat in this novel that is more women's fiction than romance.  Overall, Back in the Burbs is a fun story with interesting characters and a satisfying conclusion.

Lynn Braden

In the middle of a divorce from her lawyer husband, Karl, who has been cheating on her, Mallory finds out that her Great Aunt Maggie has left her the house where she spent so much time as a kid.  Unfortunately, the house isn't the way she remembers it, and Mallory quickly realizes that before her death, Aunt Maggie had become a hoarder and let her house become an eyesore.  When her neighbor, Nick, delivers the news that Maggie's house has violated several HOA ordinances, Mallory adds that to the many other expenses that she can't afford.  

Back in the Burbs is a humorous novel about a woman trying to overcome years of oppression by finding her voice and her future.  It is easy to question many of the decisions Mallory makes as she tries to figure out what she wants out of life.  Quirky supporting characters add to the story, but it would have been nice to see even more of those characters throughout the book.  Also, the romance between Mallory and Nick is an important part of the plot, but it takes a backseat in this novel that is more women's fiction than romance.  Overall, Back in the Burbs is a fun story with interesting characters and a satisfying conclusion.

Tracy Wolff

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

Angela Guilherme

*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review*

Mallory Martin Bach, soon to be just Martin again, is determined to start fresh. After catching her husband cheating on her with his mistress, she left him and went back to her parents house. And suddenly, it's like a veil has been lifted from he face and she realizes how through all her relationship with her ex she let herself get annuled: she agreed to drop out of college to help advence his career, she managed his law practice for minimum wage and she basically did everything he wanted, the way he wanted, just to avoid discussions...

Not that being back at her parents house makes her feel any better since, to them, the end of the wedding was her fault and the best thing she could do was to convince her husband to accept her back... To make everything worse, her favorite aunt dies. But, with her death, a beam of hope surges, since her aunt left Mallory her house. And, despite everyone's insistence for her to sell the house, she decides to move there and start a new life.

She knew the house needed work, but nothing could have prepared her for what she finds when she arrives at the house... Not only there are countless repairs to do and many infractions to the HOA to be adressed, but Mallory also discovers that her aunt had been an hoarder and no one knew...

And as if that wasn't enough, she still has to put up with Nick Holloway, the grumpy neighbour (and quite handsome, not that she noticed) that won't stop bugging her to mow the lawn. But who also, mysteriously, seems to always be there when she needs him. Even if at the time she's unable to admit it...

This book has two of my favorite tropes, neigbours with benefits and enemies to lovers, and I really enjoyed being able to follow the evolution of Mallory and Nick's relationship. Since the story is told only from her perspective, we never really know what is going through Nick's mind but, in the end, it all makes sense. Mallory doesn't want to commit the same mistakes of her past and the fact that Nick is a lawyer like her ex, is very decided and determined and always follows the rules, signifies that she's constantly comparing them. And she ends up making different mistakes. But when she finally realize what she wants will it be too late?

I also loved all the secundary characters, especially Nick's parents that, despite only making an appearance at the very end, make a nice impression! I don't think I'll ever forget that dinner and the conversation about The Lord of the Rings.. Oh, and I cannot forget aunt Maggie. Even though she's only present in memories, she's a crucial character throughout the whole story. I would love for the authors to write a story for Sarah, especially if they paired her with Mikey...

Kendra Negron

** spoiler alert **
           I really enjoyed this book. The only quip I have is that once sub characters were used to move the plot forward the writer threw them off a cliff. The new friend, the contractor, the ex, and even the divorce really. None of these people or plot points really had their page time to finish off their stories and tie up the strings.

Rebecca Shaffer 

I love a cute romcom to listen to mindlessly while I’m working. This definitely fit that bill. It was more awkward than my typical reading choices (the internal dialogue of the main character could be downright strange sometimes, and why was she talking about her ovaries so much??), but that isn’t to say that it didn’t have some redeeming qualities. Overall, it won’t blow your mind but I didn’t hate it.

Caitlin Snyder

Hilarious comeback story about a 35 year old divorced women who decided to give less of a fuck about what people say her life should be like.

Nicola Sarah Brooks

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.

Aubrey Erskine

Back in the Burbs is a slow-moving yet somewhat funny story of Mallory who is trying to pick up the pieces of her life after she finds her ex-husband cheated on her. Her whole life revolved around him, from her job to her money and living situation so it’s difficult for her to wake up one morning and have absolutely nothing. Luckily her Aunt Maggie has left her a beautiful Victorian house in the burbs that has seen better days but holds promise, as does the hot neighbor across the street.

This book was nothing like I expected it to be. I thought I would get this hilarious story about home improvement shenanigans and hot neighbor hookups. Instead I got Mallory who is trying to get back into the swing of things again but is constantly drowning in self-pity. We get cleaning montages but no actual home improvement challenges. The romance was very slow moving as well with no steamy scenes until the end of the book. I also wanted to see her take her ex to the cleaners but none of that either. 

It had potential but dropped a lot of the interesting plot lines from the beginning of the book that could have made the story great. Friendship, romance, family issues were all introduced but never really followed though on. I wanted to see these relationships grow and evolve, to see Mallory evolve, instead we just kinda epilogue our way into an ending that really left a lot to be desired. Some things are never even mentioned again like what happens with the house which kinda seems important? 

The Martin family is a hot mess. It was actually upsetting how rude Mallory’s own parents were to her about her divorce and her ex cheating on her. We get a smidge of resolution there or maybe understanding is a better word, but even then a major plot line is never mentioned again after is disappears from the story. 

I came out of this book feeling like I enjoyed it but as I write this review it’s apparent I really didn’t. Super disappointed because I was really looking forward to this one but it was a classic case of show don't just tell me. It had potential but just was not for me.

Back in the Burbs

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