"The Cul-de-Sac War" by Melissa Ferguson

Bree Leake's dreams of owning her grandmother’s house are coming true . . . until life at her theater job 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. 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.

This book was really funny. It's a quick read, with a clean, light romance that would translate great to film. Having seen some prank wars gone bad, I can confirm they keep it pretty respectable (though you can bet one will take it a step too far). While the prank war was amusing, it was the writing in general that really made me laugh out loud. 

As fun as it is, it's the character's vulnerabilities that really make the story work. It is when one character realizes that the other is truly hurting--and in spite of the war, forges a truce for an evening--that they develop a real relationship and move from acquaintances to people who will sacrifice for each other.

Overall, it was the lighthearted story I needed for one supremely hard day.

Thank you Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for the complimentary e-book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions are my own.

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