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. ( )

I really liked the idea of the storyline but the dialogue was super cringe worthy. ( )

I didn't hate this novel but I didn't love it either. The beginning was a bit annoying and I admit I did some skimming throughout the bla bla bla parts but there were some really funny moments in this book. I chuckled and teared up a couple times, so maybe I shouldn't be too rough on this novel. If what you're looking for is a light, easy, quick read then this is the book for you! Mallory was finally becoming a character that I could like so it would be interesting to see where she goes in her life. ( )

Back in the Burbs
Back in the Burbs, Book 1

I Picked Up This Book Because: I’ve liked Ms Wolff’s previous books.

Media Type: Audiobook
Source: AudiblePlus
Dates Read: 8/30/21 - 9/3/21
Stars: 4 Stars

The Characters:

I can’t remember their names and they are not in the blurb. I’m terrible:


The Story:

I did not know what to expect because I never read the description (I rarely do) but I loved this book. The story was great. The characters were sassy and had great chemistry and the emotional payoff was there too.

Narrator(s):

Excellent. I even looked her up to see what else she narrates.

The Random Thoughts: ( )

Hilarious, relatable and uplifting
4 stars

I’m a fan of Avery Flynn but a Tracy Wolff virgin so was hoping that, at the very least I’d get some of Flynn’s signature humour and vibrancy with this new pairing. And we get that and then some. Flynn and Wolff make a great team, not just because they sound like they could be a big haired, 80s, crime-fighting cop duo. They obviously get each other’s humour, giving us a story that’s hilarious and snarky with enough depth to make you care but without ever dragging you down into a pit of emotion or despair.

I really loved Mallory as a character. She’s in a bad place in her life in more ways than one - but she’s still got enough of a spark in her to make us like and root for her. And even if you’re not in any of the situations that Mallory finds herself, she’s still hella relatable. We can all relate to a time when we weren’t happy with life or when we felt a little downtrodden. Or maybe just overwhelmed and needed more than just a glass of wine!

I’ve heard this book described as ‘not quite a romance’ and I suppose that’s accurate. This is definitely Mallory’s book, written wholly from her point of view and is about her journey. Having said that, the relationship between Mallory and Nick is definitely the most important of the book and I’ve read romances with less romance than this one. Bottom line - if you like romance, you’ll like this book and be satisfied with it!

With that said, Nick is the kind of hero that gets my heart pitty-patting hard. He’s grumpy and straight-laced on the surface, but like Mallory, when we get to know him, we realise he’s a real softie and maybe, just maybe, his standoffish attitude is due to attraction. Ah - he’s like a sweet, grumpy nerd! And hot. Obviously.

I felt the connection between Mallory and Nick and although there are sex scenes, it was more in the small movements. The touch of a hand. The slight move towards each other. The smouldering looks. I was here for this pair and so happy with the way things worked out. And there’s an epilogue! Woo hoo!

I seriously debated between 4 and 5 stars but had to go with 4 as it took me longer than it possibly should have to finish the book - and probably the fact that I was even debating at all, meant it shouldn’t be the full starage! I think the sheer number of chapters (there are 59 and an epilogue) - and their short length meant that it was easy to dip in and out rather than needing to read on just a little bit more and more each time.

This was an hilarious, relatable and uplifting story that I couldn’t help but very much enjoy reading. I will definitely be looking up what else Tracy Wolff has written and Avery Flynn remains firmly on my favourite author’s shelf. Any future collaborations between this pair will be eagerly snapped up by me. A very high 4 stars for this story. ( )