e-Audio, 10:01:45
Narrated by: Jade Wheeler
Release Date: November 14, 2023
Published by: Berkley
Read from: November 7-8, 2023
Stand-alone
Source: PRH Audio (I received a copy of this audiobook from the Publisher in exchange for a just and honest review. This did nothing to influence my review.)
TW: Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Racism, Sexism
For Readers Interested In: Romance, Realistic Fiction, Contemporary, AdultTwo rival candidates for a homeowner’s association presidency are about to find out how dirty suburbanites fight in this steamy new romantic comedy from Alexa Martin.
After years of hustling, Collins Carter has finally made it…back to her parents’ house. Between tending to the compost with her newly retired dad and running into her high school nemesis at the only decent coffee shop in town, Collins realizes this subdivision from hell she swore she’d never return to is her rock bottom.
Then the homeowner’s association complaint arrived.
Nathaniel Adams always dreamed of a nice, quiet life in his suburban hometown. Or at least that’s what he thought until Collins moved back and sent his quaint, organized life into a tailspin. He thought Collins was infuriating ten years ago, but when she announces she’s running against him for HOA president, all bets are off.
From secret board meetings to vicious smear campaigns whispered over backyard fences, Collins and Nate sink to levels their sleepy suburb has never seen before. But as hate turns into lust, these two enemies are forced to reckon with the feelings they’ve ignored for years. If only there were bylaws for real life.
*MY THOUGHTS*
Me and Martin have a love hate relationship lol I seem to really love like every other book of hers. Luckily for me, this is one of the ones I actually liked. I laughed so much, I got mad, I swooned, just everything. I had a really good time with this one.
OK so I want to start with the trope this time. I hate to say this, but I really enjoyed it. It was so weird too. At the time I was reading this, I thought my own HOA sent me a letter because my cousin made me a sign that said “IKYFL Poppin Up Here” And I was so mad. I kept thinking they were being petty. And reading this made me even more mad, like “Ugh all HOAs are the same!” Which is why I did not like Nate at all lmao This is also why I said in my reading updates on Goodreads that there wouldn’t be a love story after that BBQ lol Because who does something like that? And idk, this power dynamic would have felt weird too after that, but that’s just me.
The romance was ok tho. I thought the two of them had a weird relationship, but only because we don’t really know what they were fighting about. When we finally got to the root of it, it was your basic miscommunication. And there’s two instances of miscommunication in this by the way. And both of them were near catastrophic to their relationship. I’m just glad they worked it out. Once they got all their stuff situated, I liked them together. The spice is there, but it’s at like a 2.5. And I’m sorry, but Idk what it is about those scenes where you might get caught, but that scene at the house showing? I had to put the book down for a little bit. My anxiety high, but I was fanning myself lol
The very best part of this tho was the writing style. Martin seems to have gotten the #commonline out of her system in her last story because she doesn’t have any in this one. And after 4 in that last one, this was a welcome break lol The other thing I noticed in this one was the humor. I haven’t laughed this hard in a long time. I was legit laughing out loud for a lot of this book. It was so much fun! From what happened to Collins and why she left (even if that wasn’t supposed to be funny smh lol) to Collins’ new bestie in her colorful leggings. It doesn’t seem funny when you read it like this lol You just had to be there.
The rest of this book was really just your average romance. They kept fighting and they got together on a one night stand. And then they were just there trying to fight off their attraction to each other. But when they finally got together they were so cute. But just like at the end of a love story, when the main characters lose each other, they did too. But it wasn’t like a break up thing because they wanted to, it wass more like because they had to. She had to see what else was out there (not in the way you’d think) and I applaud the both of them for letting her at least try. That had to take some strength on both of their parts. I also really liked the way Martin gave us some time to see them together. I hate when authors give us this huge buildup and then the ending is the only time they’re together, so this was a gift.
This review makes it seem like this was a serious book about the HOA and a resident, but it was actually pretty funny. I hope y’all read this and see for yourselves. It wasn’t a 5 star read for me, but I still don’t feel like my words did this justice. Idk this book was so cute and I really hope y’all enjoy it too!
Overall, I give this
