The Hustler Next Door
by K.A. Tucker
3.5/5
Read: 12.28.2022 to 1.2.2022
Pub Date: 1.3.2022
From the international bestselling author of The Simple Wild and Ten Tiny Breaths comes a new stand-alone enemies-to-lovers, small-town romance.
Justine MacDermott is in what she would call a transition period: squatting in her best friend’s house and working in an appliance store in Polson Falls while the man she was supposed to marry starts a new life with someone else.
She’s definitely not thinking about slashing his tires and wishing his vital extremities would fall off.
When newcomer Garrett Harrington strolls into Murphy’s Appliances looking to buy a refrigerator, Justine convinces herself she’s found her rebound. Or the next love of her life. Either works. But a chance encounter leads her to discover that Garrett isn’t who he made himself out to be, and he’s more interested in hustling her kindly old boss out of his family business—and using her to do it.
Furious at being fooled by yet another man and itching for retribution, Justine enlists the help of unlikely townsfolk to battle Harrington Group’s big-city development plans for Polson Falls.
It’s all going to plan … until Justine finds herself crossing enemy lines.
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Review
"I'm not fooling myself either though. The truth is, it's too late. I have plenty of feelings for Garrett John Harrington III."
I've read and loved The Simple Wild by K.A. Tucker and have plans on finishing that series hopefully this year. Jonah is swoon-worthy, Calla is a great FMC, and Wren and the other characters are amazing. I was expecting the same with this book.
Justine is a witty, crass, takes-no-shit woman who has a scrappy spirit to her. She also has a huge heart and genuinely cares for the elders and her community. Garrett comes off as a phony salesperson at first but grows into a likable character once you get to know him outside of Justine's portrayal of him.
Justine had character development starting off very crass, guarded, and hiding behind snarky quips then becomes more vulnerable and more open the more she learned to trust. I just wish we would have gotten more from Garrett's character - a dual POV would have been great!
The focus on the town's codes and the Granny Gang felt a little too detailed and I wanted more relationship development between Justine and Garrett, which doesn't start until the 54% mark making the book feel like two separate stories at times. I almost forgot about the wedding for a big chunk but then was reminded as it was brought back into the story. I also wanted more from the epilogue as it kind of ends abruptly.
All of that to say, it was an engaging read and if you like speak-their-mind-lead female characters, you'll love this book. It definitely left me wanting to pick up book 1 in the series and seeing what more Tucker has coming out of Polson Falls. All around 3.5 stars but I probably won't read it again.
"That first day we met, when you told me I've never met a woman like you? Were you ever right."
Thank you to @valentine_pr_ and @katucker_ for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
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