This was an awesome story and I really loved it but it was very different than I expected. It really is about two people who are in their 40's and its really about divorce. It is extremely slow burn and its not heavy on romance, I actually would classify it more as Chik Lit rather than a romance as the romance doesn't start until a few chapters from the end. That said it was a wonderful story and I absolutely adored it.

Carli is newly divorced with two teenage girls, one is 18 and another is 17. She is a recptionist at a tv station but a new show is starting and she wants to audition for it though she has no experience.

Ben is her new neighbor and he also has two teenagers, his daughter is 14 and he has a son age 17. He has just found out his wife is cheating with his former best friend and business partner and she he moved out and found a new place to live.

Enter Carli and her dog who steals a steak from Ben's BBQ and thats how these two meet. Ben really needs a friend and thats what he and Carli are for most of this story. They both really like each other but as a new relationship after divorce they both are not sure they want to go there with their neighbor.

This was a wonderfully written and inspiring story about life at 40 and facing divorce. I loved every minute of it. I just would have rather had more romance.

This was a really cute story!!! It took a little while for me to get into it, and I think it was because I wasn't a huge fan of the point of view. I think it would have flowed a bit more if it was written in first person. I also felt like some of the conversations were a bit unrealistic - some of the things Carli's daughters said to her didn't seem like they would be actual conversations, an I had the same feelings about the conversations between Carli and her coworkers and her ex. That all being said, I stayed up until 3 am reading the second half of the book because I really wanted to know how everything was going to play out and I thought the characters turned out incredibly well. I also really appreciated what Carli did and thought in the aftermath of her divorce regarding her job and house, so I really liked those parts of the story line. Overall, I just keep coming back to this being a cute story! For more of my reviews, follow me on Instagram @today_jess_read

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed reading this story about Carli and her new neighbor Ben. I enjoyed reading a book that I was able to relate better to. Carli is a mom of two teen daughters and Ben has two teenage children of his own. I appreciate the way they took their kids’ feelings into consideration before they decided to take a chance at a relationship.

This is a pretty realistic book based on “normal” issues we face.

The New Normal by Tracy Brogan a fantastic four-star read. This is a new to me author, but I will definitely be looking at what else they wrote as I enjoyed the overall style and character development. I enjoyed finding a new normal, as we went along with the characters as they each found new things some found new homes, careers, dogs, friendship, difficulties of divorce and finally romance. This Is a good story and one I am sure many will enjoy.

RATING: 3.5/5

This was such a sweet romance. Two neighbors become friends as they deal with divorce, each becoming single parents to teenagers, and learning how to be their own selves again. I feel like this is not a story that is written often - single parents to teenagers, dealing with real feelings and issues that we each encounter daily.
I felt the characters were well written, had great chemistry. But I wish that this book was a bit longer - the ending felt a bit rushed, and I wanted a tad more romance between Carli and Ben.

If you love second chance romances with a unique twist, this book is for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was charmed by this book from the first page. Carli and Ben are both newly divorced and newly neighbors. They become close as they relearn how to be single. Both of them want to focus on their kids and getting their lives back on track before even considering dating but neither can deny there is a spark of attraction. A warm book with believable characters, it was wonderful watching them grow through their experiences. I would have liked more from the ending especially after such a slow burn but it was still satisfying.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The new normal is a sweet romantic novel about second chances, the hesitation of the heart to accept things that are too good to be true. Loved the character development of Ben and Carli. Their thoughts about future are so matured and hopeful. The language of the author is easy to understand and flow of the story is heartfelt. Not disappointing at all!
Thank you NetGalley, Tracy Brogan and Montlake romance for reader’s copy of this book. The review is my own opinion on the book.

Carli has spent the last year of her post-divorce life focusing on her daughters and figuring out what she needs and wants. She hasn't even thought about dating until her new neighbor moves in. Ben is new to single parenthood, having just split from his wife, he's doing the best the can to make his kids feel comfortable in a very uncomfortable situation. Both could use a little help, who's more perfect than your attractive neighbor.

The New Normal is less of a romance and more of a women's fiction in my opinion. It focuses more on what life can look like post-divorce and dealing with all that comes with that. While Ben and Carli do end up together it's a super slow burn as they get together at the end of the last chapter. It's an easy read with minimal drama, lots of heart and some humor.

The story of Carli and Ben started out pretty well. She was divorced, he was in the middle of a divorce and both have two children and they are next-door neighbors. She's trying to get over her husband walking out on her and handling a new job and he is trying to wrap his mind around his wife and his business partner (and so-called best friend) having an affair. Sounded interesting to me. But they dance around each other for the entire book. No kissing until near the end and of course no steam and no sexual encounter until the very end. There was not even romance. If I hadn't signed on to do this review, I would have quit reading half-way thru.

I enjoyed how normal this book was - when you get divorced you do have to make a new normal. And these two did have to start over with everything.
I enjoyed this one, but it was just missing a certain spark for me.

3.5 stars.

While this was an enjoyable read, it lacked anything in it for me to be classified as a romance book. I felt this would have been best classified as women's fiction.

Carli is semi new to the divorce scene and her story focuses on moving on in her life with her friends and advancing in a career rather than a "job". Her story was entertaining, laced with friction if her ex moving on much quicker than she did.

Ben is brand new to the divorce scene, actually just beginning. His slime of an ex took up with his now ex best friend and business partner. Ben moving next door to Carli should lead to lots more sparks and chemistry, but instead we get the interactions as neighbors, him jumping into several dates that shed him in a bad light with me, then insta love with Carli.

I was enjoying the book, realized how far I was into it and was like well these two aren't even together and only have flirted in their own minds. Then bang they were in love. I personally wish to have had more depth I'm their relationship rather than a hurried ending.

Thank you NetGalley and Montlake Romance for this arc.

I found this to be an easy, read. The characters carli and Ben are well developed and interesting. They bothe are /going through a divorce and have 2 teenage kids, but Besides the neighborhood parties, ( who wouldn’t want to live in this neighborhood) it was mostly redefining life after divorce. This is a very slow burning book, but still very good.

I’m actually torn with this book. I really liked it. It’s clean, no sex scenes. But it takes awhile for the couple in the book to get together. The book is about. Around Lancaster, trying to deal with life as a single parent and learn how to co-parent with her ex. While Ben Chase, is going through a divorce from his cheating wife. Majority of the book involves the neighborhood women getting together for parties. I want to live in a neighborhood like this. Carli and Ben really interact halfway through the book. How they ultimately get together, not really sure -even though they did like each other. This is a very slow burn book. Entertaining with the neighbor exploits and ex’s. If you like the show Desparate Housewives, you will love this book.

I opted to select this book because I have read previous works by Miss Brogan and enjoyed them very much.I must admit though that this one missed the mark for me and I was frequently distracted or just thrumming through the first 60% of it in an effort to reach the end.I hate not finishing a book so I trudged through the mediocre dialogue and situations hoping that it would get better.The story became mildly interesting once there was more of a personal interaction between the protagonists,but it still was not enough to give this book more than 2.5 stars.The ending felt rushed and unsatisfying and the insta-love left me with more questions than answers.It would have been gratifying to see a clear-cut conclusion to this one in view of all the developments in the ex husband of the female character.

It was an okay read.
This is my first time reading anything by Tracy Brogan, even though i loved the whole concept if this story it just din't click with me ,the writing style felt immature at times and somethings felt rushed while others felt really rushed

This is a slow burn romance and by slow burn, I mean slooow burn. It was a beautifully written novel about getting through a divorce and learning to live in the "new normal". In that situation, it was sweet and I enjoyed how Carli and Ben grew from their friendship. It was really a neighbors to friends to eventually, "more" situation. But be forewarned, the romance, while sweet, was pretty much secondary to them being friends and getting over their divorces. I loved the perspectives of the children (both have 2 children, each) and the neighbors were a hoot. This is a well written novel and the first novel I've read from the author. I enjoyed it although I was expecting something different that focused more on the romance, rather than the psyche of getting over divorces. But overall, I enjoyed the book.

Thanks to NetGalley for the fun read!

I absolutely adored this book. The characters were so real that it sucked you in and made you feel a part of the story. You didn't want it to end!

The New Normal
By: Tracy Brogan

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2

I was excited to read this book based on the cover, but the story ended up being a little different than I had anticipated. This is a cute story about new neighbors Ben and Carli who are both newly divorced. They both struggle to help their children adjust to divorce and having two homes while trying to hold themselves together too. Carli starts the new career she’s always dreamed of and leans on her friends (the neighborhood parents club) for support. Both Ben and Carli try to figure out how to move on with their own lives and find love again. Thank you @netgalley for this ARC. Look for this book out on shelves 6/2/2020.

This was a very cute, well-written romance. I really felt for both main characters (and enjoyed the switching perspective between the two) and felt that their story, and their romance, was very realistic. A sweet, feel-good story!

Thank you NetGalley and Montlake Romance for this arc.

I found this to be an easy, breezy read. A sweet story that focused more on the post-divorce "highs" experienced by Carli and Ben than their "lows." There were enough lows thrown in to stave off diabetes, but not of the agonizing and paralyzing variety, just enough to approach "real life." But who reads these books for vicarious pain? The characters seemed to be well (if not fully) developed and interesting. Beyond the neighborhood parties, it was mostly the day-to-day business of redefining life after divorce, so while the characters were finding their "new lives", there weren't any OTT dramatics. This felt genuine given their circumstances. There was enough humor and humorous situations throughout to keep my interest sparked, despite the predictability of the plot.

3.5 stars rounded up.