The Cul-de-Sac War is a hilarious romance that will have you in stitches even as you shake your head.
Book Blurb
Bree Leake doesn’t want to be tied down. She’s had more jobs than she can count, and she plans to move as soon as the curtains fall on her less-than-minor stage role at The Barter—the oldest live performance theater in the US. But just when it’s time to move on again, Bree’s parents make her an offer: hold steady for a full year, and they will give her the one thing she’s always wanted—her grandmother’s house. Her dreams are coming true . . . until life at the theater throws her some curve balls.
And then there’s Chip McBride—her handsome and infuriating next-door neighbor.
Chip just might be the only person whose stubborn streak can match Bree’s. She would move heaven and earth to have him off her cul-de-sac and out of her life, but according to the bargain she’s struck, she can’t move out of her house and away from the man who’s making her life miserable. So begins Bree’s obsessive new mission: to drive Chip out of the neighborhood—and fast.
Bree isn’t the only one who’s a tad competitive, and Chip is more than willing to fight fire with fire. But as their pranks escalate, the line between love and hate starts to blur—and their heated rivalry threatens to take a hilarious, heartwarming, and romantic new turn.
My Thoughts
I’d be lying if I said Bree and Chip didn’t come off a bit immature at times. But, in an odd way, that was part of The Cul-de-Sac War‘s charm. Their banter and adolescent pranks created plenty of humor. By alternating between Bree and Chip, Ferguson does a great job of giving the reader a better look at the full story through two unreliable narrators. Neither one can see the full picture, and the misunderstandings leave the reader with a lot to think about.
Ferguson also mangers to convince the readers why Bree and Chip are perfect for each other. As you laugh at their rivalry, you know they should be together. I found myself at times wanting to shake them. But they came around soon enough.
The Cul-de-Sac War isn’t overly religious, but there are enough undertones that Christian readers will notice and appreciate. A reader who isn’t Christian may not pick up on it, which makes this novel a great choice to share with your friends, even if you aren’t sure where they stand with the Lord. At one point, two characters engage in a conversation about how we are meant for something greater than this world. I loved the vulnerability in this scene, and I think it would make a great conversation starter with someone new to Christian ideals.
(Note: I received a complimentary copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)
Further Information
The Cul-de-Sac War releases November 10. Click the image above to pre-order a copy from Bookshop or visit your favorite book retailer.
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And if you love enemies-to-lovers stories, check out my review of A Girl’s Guide to the Outback by Jessica Kate.
