First published 2011
Mia writes Amish zombie teen romance novels. She and her husband Mac have just bought their first home in the Chicago suburbs where John Hughes filmed his movies. Mac decides to handle the renovations himself. The couple quickly discovers that homeownership brings unexpected challenges. They clash with their homeowners association over various issues. Their new neighbors prove less than welcoming. A colorful cast enters their lives, including their former landlady who behaves like a celebrity wannabe. As Mac tackles one DIY disaster after another, the renovation process drags on for months. The stress of construction, difficult neighbors, and bureaucratic battles tests Mia and Mac's relationship. They must navigate their new suburban reality while wondering whether their marriage can withstand the pressures of home renovation and neighborhood politics.
Genres: fiction, romance, domestic-fiction, humor, contemporary, 21st-century, contemporary-romance, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family, marriage-in-trouble
Setting: Chicago, Chicago Suburbs
Period: 21st Century
306 pages · Hardcover · NAL