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Welcome to the Neighborhood
A heartwarming and life-affirming story of family dynamics, mother/daughter relationships, and second chances—perfect for fans of Maria Semple and Abbi Waxman.
After years of struggling to make ends meet, Queens single mom Ginny falls for sweet, divorced Jeff, and relishes the idea of moving with her quirky eleven-year-old daughter Harri to his home in an upscale New Jersey suburb. Though she’s never been impressed by material things, she is thrilled that getting a second chance at love comes with the added bonus of finally giving Harri everything she never could before.
And then she meets the neighbors.
Ginny is quickly thrust into the complicated realities of a neighborhood defined by the ever-shifting alliances of PTA moms, Real Housewife contenders, and their mean-girl daughters. When the neighbors’ secrets, back-stabbing, and bad behavior take a devastating toll on her daughter and new marriage, Ginny must decide what really matters—and protect it at all costs.
After years of struggling to make ends meet, Queens single mom Ginny falls for sweet, divorced Jeff, and relishes the idea of moving with her quirky eleven-year-old daughter Harri to his home in an upscale New Jersey suburb. Though she’s never been impressed by material things, she is thrilled that getting a second chance at love comes with the added bonus of finally giving Harri everything she never could before.
And then she meets the neighbors.
Ginny is quickly thrust into the complicated realities of a neighborhood defined by the ever-shifting alliances of PTA moms, Real Housewife contenders, and their mean-girl daughters. When the neighbors’ secrets, back-stabbing, and bad behavior take a devastating toll on her daughter and new marriage, Ginny must decide what really matters—and protect it at all costs.
304 pages, Paperback
First published April 5, 2022
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7072 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 296 reviews
December 8, 2022
"Welcome to the Neighborhood" by Lisa Roe is a mother-daughter story that I highly recommend!
'Ginny from Queens', is a professional artist and struggling single mom to eleven-year-old daughter Harri. She just married handsome divorced hunk, 'Jeff from New Jersey'. Now mother and daughter are moving to the suburbs into Jeff's great big upscale house.
Ginny has a second chance at love and she's excited to finally be able to provide Harri with everything a preteen dreams of, within reason, of course!
But life in the suburbs may not be as rich and welcoming as Ginny had first hoped. In a neighborhood of extravagant, materialistic housewives, lustful, wandering husbands, and mean-girl daughters who exemplify their mom's behavior, it's a bit of a nightmare!
I had forgotten how interesting life can be living in an upscale neighborhood where bad behavior is acceptable. Oh, the memories it stirs! The 'country club' life and the long noses your neighbors look down because of your choice not to join 'The Club'. Keeping our kids' normal was both a focus and a challenge that led to a lot of tears and fears!
We, you and me, as everyday parents, working for a living, ensuring our kids grow up to be good, decent people don't always realize that there are real people who live and act like the 'neighbor' characters in this book. It does capture the extremes but it also reflects fairly accurately how it impacts others who refuse to play along.
Yep, it's fiction but this stuff happens every day! So do the triggers like attempted rape. The socially relevant messages: listening to your instincts, being kind to others, staying true to who you are and standing alone when necessary, are all elevated in this mother-daughter story.
I'll get off my 'soap-box' now and tell you I love the mother-daughter characters of Ginny and Harri. Their love for each other is palpable and it's what carries them through their unexpected adventure in this community and what keeps them centered.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Emma Love who did an excellent job overall. I love how she projected her energy into the passion behind Ginny's love and protection for her daughter, Harri. It was a perfect fit for this story!
I enjoyed how this story played out even though it was a bit predictable and cheesy in parts. The fact that it held important social messages made it a relevant story, for me. I highly recommend!
Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and Lisa Roe for a free ALC of this book. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review.
'Ginny from Queens', is a professional artist and struggling single mom to eleven-year-old daughter Harri. She just married handsome divorced hunk, 'Jeff from New Jersey'. Now mother and daughter are moving to the suburbs into Jeff's great big upscale house.
Ginny has a second chance at love and she's excited to finally be able to provide Harri with everything a preteen dreams of, within reason, of course!
But life in the suburbs may not be as rich and welcoming as Ginny had first hoped. In a neighborhood of extravagant, materialistic housewives, lustful, wandering husbands, and mean-girl daughters who exemplify their mom's behavior, it's a bit of a nightmare!
I had forgotten how interesting life can be living in an upscale neighborhood where bad behavior is acceptable. Oh, the memories it stirs! The 'country club' life and the long noses your neighbors look down because of your choice not to join 'The Club'. Keeping our kids' normal was both a focus and a challenge that led to a lot of tears and fears!
We, you and me, as everyday parents, working for a living, ensuring our kids grow up to be good, decent people don't always realize that there are real people who live and act like the 'neighbor' characters in this book. It does capture the extremes but it also reflects fairly accurately how it impacts others who refuse to play along.
Yep, it's fiction but this stuff happens every day! So do the triggers like attempted rape. The socially relevant messages: listening to your instincts, being kind to others, staying true to who you are and standing alone when necessary, are all elevated in this mother-daughter story.
I'll get off my 'soap-box' now and tell you I love the mother-daughter characters of Ginny and Harri. Their love for each other is palpable and it's what carries them through their unexpected adventure in this community and what keeps them centered.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Emma Love who did an excellent job overall. I love how she projected her energy into the passion behind Ginny's love and protection for her daughter, Harri. It was a perfect fit for this story!
I enjoyed how this story played out even though it was a bit predictable and cheesy in parts. The fact that it held important social messages made it a relevant story, for me. I highly recommend!
Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and Lisa Roe for a free ALC of this book. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review.
May 8, 2022
Welcome to the Neighborhood by Lisa Roe is a 2022 Soucebooks Casablanca publication.
Ginny and Jeff marry after a brief whirlwind romance and move into Jeff’s upscale suburban home in New Jersey. This is a big change for Ginny and her eleven-year-old daughter, Harri. Before meeting Jeff, Ginny, a professional artist, lived in Queens, barely getting by. Now she is thrilled that Harri will have different and better opportunities and is eager to get to know the other moms in the neighborhood.
Unfortunately, they are not as welcoming to Ginny or Harri as she'd hoped. Things go from bad to worse when Jeff finally gets a long-awaited career opportunity which will require him to leave his new wife and stepdaughter for over a month, leaving Ginny and Harri swimming in shark infested waters…
This story has a lot of wisdom and depth, if you are paying close attention, and as I read this book close to Mother’s Day, I saw a lot about the mother and daughter dynamic, in this story. I thought it was very thought provoking and maybe a little eye opening too.
Though the characters were a bit exaggerated to make a point, the author did a great job. In my neck of the woods, I’m not privy to anything like this, but if living in a posh suburban home is anything like it was portrayed in this book, I’ll take a pass. None of these people seem particularly happy and their children seem destined to follow suite.
My heart went out to Harri as she struggled to keep up with the advanced girls her age who were already worried about dieting, carbs, and applying makeup expertly. There is something to be said for marching to the beat of one’s own drum and letting kids be kids for a little while, at least. I’d much rather see a world filled with kids like Harri, and I think maybe that's something people need to take a closer look at, since mental health issues are at an epidemic crisis point- just saying.
As for Jeff, he’s mostly off camera, a little clueless, a little self-absorbed, too, but he redeems himself nicely in the end.
Overall, this is a wonderful gem of a story- a great Mother’s Day story, too, though I’m not sure it was billed as such, with a lovely, heartwarming conclusion.
4+ stars
Ginny and Jeff marry after a brief whirlwind romance and move into Jeff’s upscale suburban home in New Jersey. This is a big change for Ginny and her eleven-year-old daughter, Harri. Before meeting Jeff, Ginny, a professional artist, lived in Queens, barely getting by. Now she is thrilled that Harri will have different and better opportunities and is eager to get to know the other moms in the neighborhood.
Unfortunately, they are not as welcoming to Ginny or Harri as she'd hoped. Things go from bad to worse when Jeff finally gets a long-awaited career opportunity which will require him to leave his new wife and stepdaughter for over a month, leaving Ginny and Harri swimming in shark infested waters…
This story has a lot of wisdom and depth, if you are paying close attention, and as I read this book close to Mother’s Day, I saw a lot about the mother and daughter dynamic, in this story. I thought it was very thought provoking and maybe a little eye opening too.
Though the characters were a bit exaggerated to make a point, the author did a great job. In my neck of the woods, I’m not privy to anything like this, but if living in a posh suburban home is anything like it was portrayed in this book, I’ll take a pass. None of these people seem particularly happy and their children seem destined to follow suite.
My heart went out to Harri as she struggled to keep up with the advanced girls her age who were already worried about dieting, carbs, and applying makeup expertly. There is something to be said for marching to the beat of one’s own drum and letting kids be kids for a little while, at least. I’d much rather see a world filled with kids like Harri, and I think maybe that's something people need to take a closer look at, since mental health issues are at an epidemic crisis point- just saying.
As for Jeff, he’s mostly off camera, a little clueless, a little self-absorbed, too, but he redeems himself nicely in the end.
Overall, this is a wonderful gem of a story- a great Mother’s Day story, too, though I’m not sure it was billed as such, with a lovely, heartwarming conclusion.
4+ stars
March 18, 2022
"It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood
A beautiful day for a neighbor
Could you be mine?
Would you be mine?" - Mr. Rogers
Single Mom Ginny has finally found love after being alone for so long. She and her daughter, Harri, move to suburban New Jersey when she marries Jeff. Ginny looks forward to meeting the neighbors, seeing her daughter make new friends, and making some new friends herself.
Welcome to the neighborhood were grown up mean girls are raising their very own mean girls.
She is thrust into the world of PTA moms, Botox, backstabbing and secret alliances. Perhaps it isn't such a beautiful day in the neighborhood after all. But Ginny has made a friend, her neighbor, and his dog.
I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was fantastic! She really brought the story to life, and I enjoyed this book from cover to cover. This book deals with some tough subjects such as bullying, trying to fit in, unwanted sexual advances, body shaming and dieting in your girls, to name a few. But this is not a heavy book. It was a nice read/listen which also touched on mothers and daughters, being true to yourself, sticking up for yourself, finding your own community, and love.
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
#WelcometotheNeighborhood #NetGalley
A beautiful day for a neighbor
Could you be mine?
Would you be mine?" - Mr. Rogers
Single Mom Ginny has finally found love after being alone for so long. She and her daughter, Harri, move to suburban New Jersey when she marries Jeff. Ginny looks forward to meeting the neighbors, seeing her daughter make new friends, and making some new friends herself.
Welcome to the neighborhood were grown up mean girls are raising their very own mean girls.
She is thrust into the world of PTA moms, Botox, backstabbing and secret alliances. Perhaps it isn't such a beautiful day in the neighborhood after all. But Ginny has made a friend, her neighbor, and his dog.
I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was fantastic! She really brought the story to life, and I enjoyed this book from cover to cover. This book deals with some tough subjects such as bullying, trying to fit in, unwanted sexual advances, body shaming and dieting in your girls, to name a few. But this is not a heavy book. It was a nice read/listen which also touched on mothers and daughters, being true to yourself, sticking up for yourself, finding your own community, and love.
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
#WelcometotheNeighborhood #NetGalley
April 2, 2022
Welcome to the Neighborhood by Lisa Roe
Contemporary chick lit.
Ginny falls in love with Jeff and she and her daughter move into his home to build a new family. Trouble brews with the upper crust as Ginny is left to deal with the neighborhood gossips whole her husband works out of the country.
It’s not the start she expected.
🎧 I listened to an audiobook version narrated by Emma Love. I enjoyed the performance. The full narrative is from Ginny’s perspective so there was no need for a lot of voices to perform. Regardless, I clearly felt Ginny’s anxiously watching her daughter become someone else and I heard the anger and embarrassment from the neighbor hitting on her.
This was more a renewal of learning or relearning values and standing up for them. It was heartbreaking to listen to the daughter be bullied by the neighbor friends but so wonderful when Ginny said enough!
Enriching and smart. An empowering story for values.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and Dreamscape Media.
Contemporary chick lit.
Ginny falls in love with Jeff and she and her daughter move into his home to build a new family. Trouble brews with the upper crust as Ginny is left to deal with the neighborhood gossips whole her husband works out of the country.
It’s not the start she expected.
🎧 I listened to an audiobook version narrated by Emma Love. I enjoyed the performance. The full narrative is from Ginny’s perspective so there was no need for a lot of voices to perform. Regardless, I clearly felt Ginny’s anxiously watching her daughter become someone else and I heard the anger and embarrassment from the neighbor hitting on her.
This was more a renewal of learning or relearning values and standing up for them. It was heartbreaking to listen to the daughter be bullied by the neighbor friends but so wonderful when Ginny said enough!
Enriching and smart. An empowering story for values.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and Dreamscape Media.
August 9, 2022
This is a Women's Fiction/Contemporary. I listened to the audiobook of this book, and the narrator of this audiobook did a great job. I really enjoyed the audiobook of this book. I have to start off by saying I love Ginny. This book is the reason I will never live in a neighborhood. This is why I love living in the country. This book is so great, and It really shows that not everything is what you think or see. This book will make you think, parts will make you laugh, and parts will make you want to hug your kid so hard. I love when a book brings out so much. The ending was so great. The cover in this book is so great and sums up this book so well. I will note there is a part that may be hard to read for some people, so please check out the triggers of this book before going into blind if you are a reader that gets triggered. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Sourcebooks Casablanca) or author (Lisa Roe) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.
I also won a paperback copy of this book from Goodreads.
I also won a paperback copy of this book from Goodreads.
March 15, 2022
Superficial mamas and daughters makes this neighborhood like an episode of the Real Housewives!
Ginny and her daughter Harri are in for a real surprise trying to fit into their new neighborhood after moving in with Jeff. Ginny's new husband. So many drama filled events with the neighbors left me as the reader wondering how much else could possibly go wrong.
The ridiculous over the top people in this book definitely add some humor.
Of course some sweet family moments happen to balance the crazy throughout.
I listened to the audiobook version of this book and the narrator was fantastic. Her voices for some of the women and daughters seemed spot on and helped to imagine them in real life.
This was a light and fun book that kept my interest and kept me rooting for Ginny to stand up to the superficial moms.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing a copy of this Audiobook for my honest review.
Ginny and her daughter Harri are in for a real surprise trying to fit into their new neighborhood after moving in with Jeff. Ginny's new husband. So many drama filled events with the neighbors left me as the reader wondering how much else could possibly go wrong.
The ridiculous over the top people in this book definitely add some humor.
Of course some sweet family moments happen to balance the crazy throughout.
I listened to the audiobook version of this book and the narrator was fantastic. Her voices for some of the women and daughters seemed spot on and helped to imagine them in real life.
This was a light and fun book that kept my interest and kept me rooting for Ginny to stand up to the superficial moms.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing a copy of this Audiobook for my honest review.
March 20, 2022
4.5/5
Well this one was a pleasant surprise for me, I didn’t have any real expectations before I started I just knew it was about a single mom and her daughter who move from the city to the suburbs in NJ when the mom falls in love with Jeff who lives there and that’s really all I needed to know before adding it to my TBR. I truly didn’t expect to fall in love with Ginny and her daughter, Harri or to laugh so much either. This was funny and witty in the vein of Abbi Waxman who I LOVE and it was super heartfelt and full of some wisdom with a side or humor. I’m also a huge fan of The Real Housewives of New Jersey and the women in Ginny’s new neighborhood could give Melissa, Teresa, Dolores, Jennifer, Marge and Jackie a run for their money IYKYK There were also some wonderful side characters as well, truly a well rounded vibe with people behaving badly and normal, good people just trying to live their lives. A perfect balance between family dynamics, romance and gossipy neighborhood antics, this is a great spring read!
Well this one was a pleasant surprise for me, I didn’t have any real expectations before I started I just knew it was about a single mom and her daughter who move from the city to the suburbs in NJ when the mom falls in love with Jeff who lives there and that’s really all I needed to know before adding it to my TBR. I truly didn’t expect to fall in love with Ginny and her daughter, Harri or to laugh so much either. This was funny and witty in the vein of Abbi Waxman who I LOVE and it was super heartfelt and full of some wisdom with a side or humor. I’m also a huge fan of The Real Housewives of New Jersey and the women in Ginny’s new neighborhood could give Melissa, Teresa, Dolores, Jennifer, Marge and Jackie a run for their money IYKYK There were also some wonderful side characters as well, truly a well rounded vibe with people behaving badly and normal, good people just trying to live their lives. A perfect balance between family dynamics, romance and gossipy neighborhood antics, this is a great spring read!
March 19, 2022
(free review copy) This story was a lot of fun! Lighthearted but with some pretty serious issues woven in (diet culture, sexual assault) as well, Roe hits the perfect note in this story of a mom and her daughter navigating the dangers of a hyper competitive suburb. It is a contemporary fiction novel with intelligent humor, mom life and the trials and tribulations of figuring out a new marriage. Loved it!
September 8, 2021
Really appreciated the opportunity to read this novel early. It's a heartfelt and endearing story about keeping one's feet firmly planted while also dreaming big.
August 6, 2022
Welcome to the Neighborhood
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Romance
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 4/5/22
Author: Lisa Roe
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Pages: 304
Goodreads Rating: 3.71
TW ⚠️: Bulling, body shaming, and unwanted sexual advances.
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
Synopsis: After years of struggling to make ends meet, Queens single mom Ginny falls for sweet, divorced Jeff, and relishes the idea of moving with her quirky eleven-year-old daughter Harri to his home in an upscale New Jersey suburb. And then she meets the neighbors. Ginny is quickly thrust into the complicated realities of a neighborhood defined by the ever-shifting alliances of PTA moms, Real Housewife contenders, and their mean-girl daughters. When the neighbors’ secrets, back-stabbing, and bad behavior take a devastating toll on her daughter and new marriage, Ginny must decide what really matters—and protect it at all costs.
My Thoughts: This is a thought provoking story about the love between a mother and a daughter. Some parts of the story are exaggerated a bit, but it is the author’s way of showing how posh suburban living can be, and I think it was brilliantly done. The characters were developed so well, with depth, empowerment, growth, and over the top. The author’s writing style was complex, thought provoking, light humor, powerful, heartwarming, and brilliantly done. This book released right before Mother’s Day and I believe that was the perfect release. This story delivers an important message in today’s culture, it is important to know your worth and stand your ground. There were some really sweet moments that outweighed the badly behaved neighbors. I recommend picking up this book for a light fun summer read!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Romance
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 4/5/22
Author: Lisa Roe
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Pages: 304
Goodreads Rating: 3.71
TW ⚠️: Bulling, body shaming, and unwanted sexual advances.
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
Synopsis: After years of struggling to make ends meet, Queens single mom Ginny falls for sweet, divorced Jeff, and relishes the idea of moving with her quirky eleven-year-old daughter Harri to his home in an upscale New Jersey suburb. And then she meets the neighbors. Ginny is quickly thrust into the complicated realities of a neighborhood defined by the ever-shifting alliances of PTA moms, Real Housewife contenders, and their mean-girl daughters. When the neighbors’ secrets, back-stabbing, and bad behavior take a devastating toll on her daughter and new marriage, Ginny must decide what really matters—and protect it at all costs.
My Thoughts: This is a thought provoking story about the love between a mother and a daughter. Some parts of the story are exaggerated a bit, but it is the author’s way of showing how posh suburban living can be, and I think it was brilliantly done. The characters were developed so well, with depth, empowerment, growth, and over the top. The author’s writing style was complex, thought provoking, light humor, powerful, heartwarming, and brilliantly done. This book released right before Mother’s Day and I believe that was the perfect release. This story delivers an important message in today’s culture, it is important to know your worth and stand your ground. There were some really sweet moments that outweighed the badly behaved neighbors. I recommend picking up this book for a light fun summer read!
April 5, 2022
Welcome to the Neighborhood is a bittersweet story about Ginny, a newlywed with a young daughter who moves into her new husband’s house in a rather snooty neighborhood. Ginny wants to find a way to fit in, and she’s hoping that her daughter Harri will be able to make friends and thrive in their new home. Unfortunately, the neighbors are not as friendly as they seem, and both Ginny and Harri find out that it’s not so easy to belong. There were scenes that made me laugh out loud, but there were also many cringeworthy moments, and I was very sympathetic to what these two free spirits were having to contend with. I was cheering for both of them as they struggled to find their footing, truly hoping it would all work out.
March 18, 2022
⭐⭐⭐/5
• women's fiction more so than contemporary romance
• relatable themes like wanting to belong
• engaging narration
There are sweet moments and relationships (mother/daughter, neighbor, friend), and some funny scenes. A couple of the characters kind of annoyed me. If you're a fan of Gilmore Girls, give this one a read!
🗣️ Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to read and review this ARC via audiobook. All opinions are honest and my own.
• women's fiction more so than contemporary romance
• relatable themes like wanting to belong
• engaging narration
There are sweet moments and relationships (mother/daughter, neighbor, friend), and some funny scenes. A couple of the characters kind of annoyed me. If you're a fan of Gilmore Girls, give this one a read!
🗣️ Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to read and review this ARC via audiobook. All opinions are honest and my own.
May 30, 2022
Great mother/daughter story, fun, cheesy and humorous to boot! Ginny and her tween daughter move to her new husband’s affluent suburb and learn how the other half live. She loves the house. The neighbors not so much. Her husband goes away for a job in Dublin, leaving Ginny to deal with snobby PTA moms, their mean-girl daughters and all those issues that come with it. The opposite of what she signed up for. But as you’ll find out, Ginny learned how to navigate through it all, finding what was most important and who she didn’t want to be.
March 19, 2022
Welcome to the Neighborhood is an entertaining mash up of Stepford Wives, Real Housewives of New Jersey and Gilmore Girls - not a combination anyone would make intuitively, but it works. A mom and daughter start a new life after moving from Woodside, Queens to suburban New Jersey, and end up walking into a lions den of mean girls. Things go exactly as well as you'd expect them to.
While I ultimately didn't love this book, I think Lisa Roe shows a lot of promise with this debut novel. The writing is good, the humor is natural, and the story works well. I think in her next novel, if she embraces and explores the complexity of her characters a bit more, it will be really good, and remedy what fell flat for me in this novel.
Book CW: sexual assault, eating disorders
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the audiobook e-galley for this title, given in exchange for an honest review.
While I ultimately didn't love this book, I think Lisa Roe shows a lot of promise with this debut novel. The writing is good, the humor is natural, and the story works well. I think in her next novel, if she embraces and explores the complexity of her characters a bit more, it will be really good, and remedy what fell flat for me in this novel.
Book CW: sexual assault, eating disorders
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the audiobook e-galley for this title, given in exchange for an honest review.
October 3, 2021
I am really looking forward to read this witty, warm and wonderful new book!!
March 21, 2022
#WelcometotheNeighborhood. Thank you to #NetGalley and #DreamscapeMedia for an advanced readers copy. This is the story of Ginny and her daughter Harri. Ginny meets and falls in love with Jeff, they get married and move to the New Jersey suburbs. Ginny is hoping for a new start and to give Harri all she’s ever dreamed of. The neighbors turn out to be a group of mean girls, both adults and children, and both Ginny and Harri try to navigate this new world.
This was originally going to be a three star review, but Ginny redeemed herself in my eyes as far as her decision making. At first she second guessed and doubted herself so much it was a little tedious, I found myself a bit annoyed with her. The neighborhood moms were over the top, but entertaining. My favorite character was Wayne and his dog Penny and Z, Ginny’s artist best friend.
Overall, this was a light, enjoyable read, well written and good character development. I would read this author again.
TW: there is a scene of aggressive sexual advances on the part of a man and it could be a trigger to those sensitive to SA.
This was originally going to be a three star review, but Ginny redeemed herself in my eyes as far as her decision making. At first she second guessed and doubted herself so much it was a little tedious, I found myself a bit annoyed with her. The neighborhood moms were over the top, but entertaining. My favorite character was Wayne and his dog Penny and Z, Ginny’s artist best friend.
Overall, this was a light, enjoyable read, well written and good character development. I would read this author again.
TW: there is a scene of aggressive sexual advances on the part of a man and it could be a trigger to those sensitive to SA.
March 17, 2022
Thanks to NetGalley I was able to listen to the audiobook before it came out to the public!
Do you like watching the Real Housewives of NYC or LA? if you do maybe this is a book for you!
Do you love Gilmore Girls? then read this book!
Ginny formerly a single mother and artist from Queens, moves to New Jersey suburbia to live with her new husband. Ginny is introduced to small town catty cliques of the PTA moms and bitchy teenagers.
there's some sweet moments to balance out the ugliness of badly behaved moms.
Do you like watching the Real Housewives of NYC or LA? if you do maybe this is a book for you!
Do you love Gilmore Girls? then read this book!
Ginny formerly a single mother and artist from Queens, moves to New Jersey suburbia to live with her new husband. Ginny is introduced to small town catty cliques of the PTA moms and bitchy teenagers.
there's some sweet moments to balance out the ugliness of badly behaved moms.
March 11, 2022
This was an entertaining mother-daughter, fish out of water story, as Ginny formerly a single mother and artist from Queens, moves to New Jersey suburbia to live with her new husband. Thrust into small town catty cliques of the PTA moms, Ginny tries to fit in for the sake of her daughter but neither is able to find acceptance with these mean moms and their daughters.
There are a few funny moments and some poignant mother-daughter/friend moments. This is definitely more women's fiction than romance. Ginny's husband Jeff leaves for Ireland shortly after Ginny moves in, leaving her to survive on her own. Luckily Ginny does befriend a kind old widower.
Great on audio narrated by Emma Love. This debut is perfect for fans of Gilmore Girls or Big little lies. Much thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for my advance review copy in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own.
There are a few funny moments and some poignant mother-daughter/friend moments. This is definitely more women's fiction than romance. Ginny's husband Jeff leaves for Ireland shortly after Ginny moves in, leaving her to survive on her own. Luckily Ginny does befriend a kind old widower.
Great on audio narrated by Emma Love. This debut is perfect for fans of Gilmore Girls or Big little lies. Much thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for my advance review copy in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own.
March 26, 2022
*I received a free copy of this audiobook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
This story of mother/daughter fish-out-of-water was good, but never fully pulled me in. While I enjoyed it, I felt like a lot of things happened but not always things that added to the plot. I didn't love that there was so much talk of Harri's disordered eating habits but that was never fully explored and she never received proper help or support from her mom about it. Ginny is trying so hard to be a good mom, but her attention was elsewhere so often that she couldn't see what was happening right in front of her. There were plenty of heartwarming moments throughout, but I often found myself very frustrated with with characters.
That said, I felt that the whole book had a strong ending. I'm a sucker for an HEA in whatever form that takes, and for these characters I was so glad to see them moving into the life they wanted and deserved.
This story of mother/daughter fish-out-of-water was good, but never fully pulled me in. While I enjoyed it, I felt like a lot of things happened but not always things that added to the plot. I didn't love that there was so much talk of Harri's disordered eating habits but that was never fully explored and she never received proper help or support from her mom about it. Ginny is trying so hard to be a good mom, but her attention was elsewhere so often that she couldn't see what was happening right in front of her. There were plenty of heartwarming moments throughout, but I often found myself very frustrated with with characters.
That said, I felt that the whole book had a strong ending. I'm a sucker for an HEA in whatever form that takes, and for these characters I was so glad to see them moving into the life they wanted and deserved.
April 4, 2022
Welcome to the Neighborhood by @lisaroewrites is a beautiful mother, daughter story.
Ginny, who is a Queen’s single mom has been struggling for years to make the ends meet and raise her 11-year-old daughter Harri. When she finally falls for Jeff, a sweet divorcee who lives in an upscale New Jersey suburb, she has a second chance at love and does all she can for Harri.
Little did she know that this suburb neighborhood is not as welcoming as she thought. It's means girls raising mean girls’ neighborhood.
This is a book of fiction however it focuses on stuff we deal with every day. I loved both Ginny and Harri. The author did a great job portraying their love for each other. I enjoyed how the story ended, it was predictable but very entertaining. I was heartbroken reading how Harri was being bullied by their neighbors and I liked how Ginny stood up for her daughter.
The story deals with some sensitive subjects such as bullying, body shaming, and more.
Ginny, who is a Queen’s single mom has been struggling for years to make the ends meet and raise her 11-year-old daughter Harri. When she finally falls for Jeff, a sweet divorcee who lives in an upscale New Jersey suburb, she has a second chance at love and does all she can for Harri.
Little did she know that this suburb neighborhood is not as welcoming as she thought. It's means girls raising mean girls’ neighborhood.
This is a book of fiction however it focuses on stuff we deal with every day. I loved both Ginny and Harri. The author did a great job portraying their love for each other. I enjoyed how the story ended, it was predictable but very entertaining. I was heartbroken reading how Harri was being bullied by their neighbors and I liked how Ginny stood up for her daughter.
The story deals with some sensitive subjects such as bullying, body shaming, and more.
March 23, 2022
Thank you Source Books Casablanca for the gifted copy.
This book was just okay for me. I think I would have liked it better if I hadn't have read Class Mom and Holly Banks Full of Angst (and the sequel). The trope of "regular mom moves to snooty rich neighborhood and tries to fit in" is just meh for me. It did deviate from both books, and I liked it more towards the end, but it was hard for me to get into.
I thought Jeff was kind of a jerk, and I find it weird that Ginny didn't meet any of the neighbors or learn more about the neighborhood before she agreed to move in with Jeff.
I think a lot of people will enjoy this book, it just wasn't my favorite.
This book was just okay for me. I think I would have liked it better if I hadn't have read Class Mom and Holly Banks Full of Angst (and the sequel). The trope of "regular mom moves to snooty rich neighborhood and tries to fit in" is just meh for me. It did deviate from both books, and I liked it more towards the end, but it was hard for me to get into.
I thought Jeff was kind of a jerk, and I find it weird that Ginny didn't meet any of the neighbors or learn more about the neighborhood before she agreed to move in with Jeff.
I think a lot of people will enjoy this book, it just wasn't my favorite.
May 6, 2022
I LOVED this book! It's witty and fun with an important message of the value of being true and authentic. I loved that Ginny spoke her mind and confronted people with hard topics instead of so many stories that have characters who hold back and not say what we want them to say/what needs to be said. I devoured this "mom-com" and already can't wait for Lisa Roe's next book!
March 12, 2022
Thank you Net Galley for an audio ARC of Welcome to the Neighborhood by Lisa Roe. This was an enjoyable audiobook. It is a Mother/Daughter story, the Mother marries and moves into a house in the New Jersey supberbs. And chaos erupts.
Want to read
September 18, 2021One of my most anticipated reads of 2022—can't wait to read!
February 24, 2025
Welcome to the Neighborhood by Lisa Roe (2022)
323-page Kindle Ebook story pages 8-308
Genre: Domestic Fiction
Featuring: Pet Chicken, Bergen County, New Jersey; Woodside, Queens, New York; Newly Married, Blended Family, New Home, Long Island City, Queens, New York; Single Mom Transitioning to Second Wife, Sex - Off-Camera, Pet Portrait Artist, Suburbs, Quadragenarians, Tweens, Neighbors, Upscale Neighborhood, Cliques, School Moms, Summer, New School, FABs - Fake-AB,
Obesophobia, Affluent People, School Events, Drama, Dog, Advertisements with Covers and Blurbs for With Neighbors Like This by Tracy Goodwin, The Unplanned Life of Josie Hale by Stephanie Eding, The Family She Never Met by Caridad Scordato, Lucky Leap Day by Ann Marie Walker, Summer by the River by Debbie Burns, And Now You’re Back by Jill Mansell, and The Sisters Café by Carolyn Brown
Rating as a movie: R for adult content
Songs for the soundtrack: "Symphony No. 5" by Ludwig van Beethoven, "What If I Came Knocking" by John Mellencamp, "Bridge Over Troubled Water" by Paul Simon, "Drip" by Cardi B, "Fairies Wear Boots" by Black Sabbath, "Matchmaker, Matchmaker" by Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick
Books and Authors mentioned: Lord of the Rings series by J.R.R. Tolkien, Harry Potter Series by J. K. Rowling, The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Beverly Cleary, Lois Lowry, John Green, Pretty Little Liars Series by Sara Shepard, Cendrillon/Cinderella by Charles Perrault, Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson, The Hobbit - There and Back Again by J. R. R. Tolkien [John Ronald Reuel Tolkien], The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis, When Harry Met Sally... by Nora Ephron, Fiddler on the Roof by Joseph Stein [based on] Tevye the Dairyman by Sholem Aleichem, Orange Is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison by Piper Kerman, Hamlet by William Shakespeare, A Bug's Life by John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton and Joe Ranft; Finding Nemo by Andrew Stanton, Up by Pete Docter, Bob Peterson, and Tom McCarthy, With Neighbors Like This by Tracy Goodwin, Sophie Jordan, The Unplanned Life of Josie Hale by Stephanie Eding, The Family She Never Met by Caridad Piñeiro [Caridad Scordato], RaeAnne Thayne, Lucky Leap Day by Ann Marie Walker, Happy Singles Day by Sarah Morgenthaler, Summer by the River by Debbie Burns, A New Leash on Love by Debbie Burns, And Now You’re Back by Jill Mansell, It Started with a Secret by Sophie Kinsella, Steel Magnolias by Robert Harling, Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg
Memorable Quotes: And then from somewhere around the side of the house, a motor turns over and the hot tub on the deck bubbles to life. A man wearing a bathrobe and black rubber sandals walks past the kitchen window. My hand flies to my throat as I slink back against the refrigerator, wishing I had my cell phone and praying the sliding glass doors are locked. The lost dog doesn’t even lift his head as the man slides out of his sandals and drops his bathrobe on the deck. He dips a toe into the hot tub, then slides into the water, but not before I see he is buck naked. “Mom, I just saw that man’s penis!” Oh, shit. Harri is standing in the kitchen doorway, eleven looking like six in her favorite Harry Potter pajamas that haven’t fit her in years, hugging her tatter-eared Peter Rabbit, her hair still in yesterday’s braids—sort of. “Harri, come here!” I wave her over to my hiding spot between the refrigerator and the dishwasher. “Wait, grab my cell phone first.” Harri hustles over and I tuck her under my armpit like a protective mother swan, but with none of the grace. “Who is that man?” my daughter asks, craning her neck toward the window. “I have no idea. But I’m going to find out.” I call Jeff. It goes to voicemail.
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️🖼🎨👩🏻🎨🐔👩👧💒👨👦
My thoughts: 🔖Page 78 of 323 Chapter 9 - I'm more focused on pondering the chances that 2 or 3 neighbors would be 11 the summer before 5th grade than where this story is going. I love domestic fiction, but this feels very thrown together. I want to escape from MC's life with an activity. It's giving Desperate Housewives meets Gilmore Girls, and I wasn't into either of those shows.
This was okay. Not my cup of tea, but it got better toward the end, or I got used to them. Not a lot happens drama-wise or growth-wise. I picked this up because it was pink, and the cover looked nice. This is another book that made me wonder what was in the first chapter that made me add this book to my TBR in the first place. I didn't like any of the characters, including the MC. I'm sure I won't remember this a month from now so I'm just gonna remind myself this book is about a single mom who marries a divorcé and moves from a 1 bedroom apartment in Queens to a manor in New Jersey. The best part was I needed a "Lucky" book for my bingo cards and I found a contender in the advertisements but I'm still going to browse my TBR first given my experience with this book and With Neighbors Like This. I say it's 50/50 since Carolyn Brown was also on the list, and Lucky Leap Day sounds like a February/March book.
Recommend to others: Not likely.
323-page Kindle Ebook story pages 8-308
Genre: Domestic Fiction
Featuring: Pet Chicken, Bergen County, New Jersey; Woodside, Queens, New York; Newly Married, Blended Family, New Home, Long Island City, Queens, New York; Single Mom Transitioning to Second Wife, Sex - Off-Camera, Pet Portrait Artist, Suburbs, Quadragenarians, Tweens, Neighbors, Upscale Neighborhood, Cliques, School Moms, Summer, New School, FABs - Fake-AB,
Obesophobia, Affluent People, School Events, Drama, Dog, Advertisements with Covers and Blurbs for With Neighbors Like This by Tracy Goodwin, The Unplanned Life of Josie Hale by Stephanie Eding, The Family She Never Met by Caridad Scordato, Lucky Leap Day by Ann Marie Walker, Summer by the River by Debbie Burns, And Now You’re Back by Jill Mansell, and The Sisters Café by Carolyn Brown
Rating as a movie: R for adult content
Songs for the soundtrack: "Symphony No. 5" by Ludwig van Beethoven, "What If I Came Knocking" by John Mellencamp, "Bridge Over Troubled Water" by Paul Simon, "Drip" by Cardi B, "Fairies Wear Boots" by Black Sabbath, "Matchmaker, Matchmaker" by Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick
Books and Authors mentioned: Lord of the Rings series by J.R.R. Tolkien, Harry Potter Series by J. K. Rowling, The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Beverly Cleary, Lois Lowry, John Green, Pretty Little Liars Series by Sara Shepard, Cendrillon/Cinderella by Charles Perrault, Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson, The Hobbit - There and Back Again by J. R. R. Tolkien [John Ronald Reuel Tolkien], The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis, When Harry Met Sally... by Nora Ephron, Fiddler on the Roof by Joseph Stein [based on] Tevye the Dairyman by Sholem Aleichem, Orange Is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison by Piper Kerman, Hamlet by William Shakespeare, A Bug's Life by John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton and Joe Ranft; Finding Nemo by Andrew Stanton, Up by Pete Docter, Bob Peterson, and Tom McCarthy, With Neighbors Like This by Tracy Goodwin, Sophie Jordan, The Unplanned Life of Josie Hale by Stephanie Eding, The Family She Never Met by Caridad Piñeiro [Caridad Scordato], RaeAnne Thayne, Lucky Leap Day by Ann Marie Walker, Happy Singles Day by Sarah Morgenthaler, Summer by the River by Debbie Burns, A New Leash on Love by Debbie Burns, And Now You’re Back by Jill Mansell, It Started with a Secret by Sophie Kinsella, Steel Magnolias by Robert Harling, Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg
Memorable Quotes: And then from somewhere around the side of the house, a motor turns over and the hot tub on the deck bubbles to life. A man wearing a bathrobe and black rubber sandals walks past the kitchen window. My hand flies to my throat as I slink back against the refrigerator, wishing I had my cell phone and praying the sliding glass doors are locked. The lost dog doesn’t even lift his head as the man slides out of his sandals and drops his bathrobe on the deck. He dips a toe into the hot tub, then slides into the water, but not before I see he is buck naked. “Mom, I just saw that man’s penis!” Oh, shit. Harri is standing in the kitchen doorway, eleven looking like six in her favorite Harry Potter pajamas that haven’t fit her in years, hugging her tatter-eared Peter Rabbit, her hair still in yesterday’s braids—sort of. “Harri, come here!” I wave her over to my hiding spot between the refrigerator and the dishwasher. “Wait, grab my cell phone first.” Harri hustles over and I tuck her under my armpit like a protective mother swan, but with none of the grace. “Who is that man?” my daughter asks, craning her neck toward the window. “I have no idea. But I’m going to find out.” I call Jeff. It goes to voicemail.
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️🖼🎨👩🏻🎨🐔👩👧💒👨👦
My thoughts: 🔖Page 78 of 323 Chapter 9 - I'm more focused on pondering the chances that 2 or 3 neighbors would be 11 the summer before 5th grade than where this story is going. I love domestic fiction, but this feels very thrown together. I want to escape from MC's life with an activity. It's giving Desperate Housewives meets Gilmore Girls, and I wasn't into either of those shows.
This was okay. Not my cup of tea, but it got better toward the end, or I got used to them. Not a lot happens drama-wise or growth-wise. I picked this up because it was pink, and the cover looked nice. This is another book that made me wonder what was in the first chapter that made me add this book to my TBR in the first place. I didn't like any of the characters, including the MC. I'm sure I won't remember this a month from now so I'm just gonna remind myself this book is about a single mom who marries a divorcé and moves from a 1 bedroom apartment in Queens to a manor in New Jersey. The best part was I needed a "Lucky" book for my bingo cards and I found a contender in the advertisements but I'm still going to browse my TBR first given my experience with this book and With Neighbors Like This. I say it's 50/50 since Carolyn Brown was also on the list, and Lucky Leap Day sounds like a February/March book.
Recommend to others: Not likely.
April 12, 2022
What a pleasant surprise! I hope this book does immensely well. It was cute but serious at the same time. I keep getting thrown for a loop by this new illustrated book cover trend expecting chick lit every time. But this was the best kind of women's fiction through and through.
Ginny and Jeff have just gotten married--blending their family and their lives. But do they really know each other? Jeff has Ginny and her 11 year old daughter, Harri, move in to the home he made with his ex-wife--gold-digger Stacy who left for a man making more money. But in the meantime chaos ensues with Ginny in the neighborhood where Stacy had so many friends. And then Jeff make a crazy decision about his job. One that for me was the only part of the book I thought to be completely unrealistic. He knows they just got married. Why would he do it? Also, Harri was asking to be homeschooled....and Ginny is an artist who could literally work from anywhere. Why would she not want to give her daughter and herself the amazing experience to go with her husband....SO STUPID!
But the book wouldn't have happened if she had gone....so alas, stupid decisions make for good stories! Ha!
I love that the main theme is a woman finding her place in a new life and helping her daughter along the way, while not adding infidelity or a terrible marriage to the mix. That's the fresh take on women's fiction that is SO needed.
Ginny and Jeff have just gotten married--blending their family and their lives. But do they really know each other? Jeff has Ginny and her 11 year old daughter, Harri, move in to the home he made with his ex-wife--gold-digger Stacy who left for a man making more money. But in the meantime chaos ensues with Ginny in the neighborhood where Stacy had so many friends. And then Jeff make a crazy decision about his job. One that for me was the only part of the book I thought to be completely unrealistic. He knows they just got married. Why would he do it? Also, Harri was asking to be homeschooled....and Ginny is an artist who could literally work from anywhere. Why would she not want to give her daughter and herself the amazing experience to go with her husband....SO STUPID!
But the book wouldn't have happened if she had gone....so alas, stupid decisions make for good stories! Ha!
I love that the main theme is a woman finding her place in a new life and helping her daughter along the way, while not adding infidelity or a terrible marriage to the mix. That's the fresh take on women's fiction that is SO needed.
March 17, 2022
Listen up, parents of tweens! I have the perfect book recommendation for you. Welcome to the Neighborhood by Lisa Roe follows Ginny and her eleven-year-old daughter, Harri as they navigate their new life in an upscale New Jersey suburb. This heartwarming novel touches on so many potential issues one may experience while parenting a preteen girl. Roe tackles the cell phone woes, mean girls, roller coaster emotions, fitting in with the right clothes, shoes, etc., eating disorders, and body image. My daughter turns eleven next month, so this book really spoke to me. I absolutely loved the mother/daughter dynamics portrayed for this particular age group. I thought about my daughter and I countless times while I was reading. How would she react to a similar situation? How would I? It really got me thinking, and gave me so much perspective. Roe’s debut is perfect for fans of Laurie Gelman’s Class Mom series, and Rebecca Prenevost’s Mom Walks series. Welcome to the Neighborhood releases on April 5th, so be sure to grab a copy for yourself and your #momlife friends!
March 21, 2022
#WelcometotheNeighborhood. Thank you to #NetGalley and #DreamscapeMedia for an advanced readers copy. This is the story of Ginny and her daughter Harri. Ginny meets and falls in love with Jeff, they get married and move to the New Jersey suburbs. Ginny is hoping for a new start and to give Harri all she’s ever dreamed of. The neighbors turn out to be a group of mean girls, both adults and children, and both Ginny and Harri try to navigate this new world.
This was originally going to be a three star review, but Ginny redeemed herself in my eyes as far as her decision making. At first she second guessed and doubted herself so much it was a little tedious, I found myself a bit annoyed with her. The neighborhood moms were over the top, but entertaining. My favorite character was Wayne and his dog Penny and Z, Ginny’s artist best friend.
Overall, this was a light, enjoyable read, well written and good character development. I would read this author again.
TW: there is a scene of aggressive sexual advances on the part of a man and it could be a trigger to those sensitive to SA.
This was originally going to be a three star review, but Ginny redeemed herself in my eyes as far as her decision making. At first she second guessed and doubted herself so much it was a little tedious, I found myself a bit annoyed with her. The neighborhood moms were over the top, but entertaining. My favorite character was Wayne and his dog Penny and Z, Ginny’s artist best friend.
Overall, this was a light, enjoyable read, well written and good character development. I would read this author again.
TW: there is a scene of aggressive sexual advances on the part of a man and it could be a trigger to those sensitive to SA.
July 9, 2022
A really charming story about a mother/daughter/stepdad and how they all fit into a NJ Housewives neighborhood with a dose of Queens quirkiness.
Ginny and her daughter Harri move into a McMansion with Ginny's new husband. They struggle to fit in to a community of snotty Queen Bee's - neither mom or daughter know whether to trust their new 'friends' - and then explore whether or not they want to fit in at all.
A light and fun read... with some surprises along the way!
Ginny and her daughter Harri move into a McMansion with Ginny's new husband. They struggle to fit in to a community of snotty Queen Bee's - neither mom or daughter know whether to trust their new 'friends' - and then explore whether or not they want to fit in at all.
A light and fun read... with some surprises along the way!
June 10, 2024
comforting book - first read from this author and i was definitely impressed. the way the mom handled the chaos in her new life was very intriguing & the lessons taught to not change yourself just to fit in. great book!
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