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Note to Self: Change the Locks
What happens when your ex-husband shows up on your doorstep looking for a place to live, just when you're about to get remarried? 28 year old, out of work editor/ writer Elizabeth is about to find out. Her annoying ex-husband, Simon has been "displaced" after forgetting to pay his rent and has nowhere to go. As much as she seethes at the sight of him, Elizabeth can't turn her back on the man who was once the love of her life. After all, they were happily married for two years before "the incident" ripped them apart. There's just one teensy problem. Elizabeth's fiance, Austin, has no idea that she was previously married. Nor is he aware that Simon is bunking with his future bride. Elizabeth must keep the two away from each other until she is ready to come clean about her marriage and divorce. This proves exhausting in close quarters while planning a wedding. As Elizabeth and Austin prepare for their upcoming nuptials, it gets more and more difficult to hide the truth from Austin. Especially, when Elizabeth is starting to have doubts about what the truth really is.
290 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 16, 2013
521 people are currently reading
957 people want to read
About the author
Heather Balog
23Ìýbooks135ÌýfollowersHeather Balog is a self proclaimed "Bad Mommy" and the author of fourteen novels, including the Amy Maxwell Cozy Mystery Series. She also collaborates with her "Tween-age" daughter on the Lexie Maxwell Series for young readers. She blogs at "The Bad Mommy Diaries" which, according to her family, is mostly obnoxious exaggeration, but it's much cheaper than therapy. When Heather is not writing or complaining on her blog, she's a school nurse, taxi driver, her household Sudoku champion, and a runner with way too many aches and pains to be any good. She lives with her husband and her two children who all make fun of her inability to exist without the help of a Post-It note list on a daily basis. She also has two very needy dogs who do not make fun of her, but take turns emptying the garbage in the kitchen just to get her blood pressure boiling. Visit her website at or her blogs at : or .
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
July 6, 2022
DNF, or even get very far.
I should have paid more attention to the description and that this was aimed at 20-somethings. But it is my hope that most women of any age group would fling this aside with the same level of indifference. The premise is as distasteful as the execution is amateurish.
I should have paid more attention to the description and that this was aimed at 20-somethings. But it is my hope that most women of any age group would fling this aside with the same level of indifference. The premise is as distasteful as the execution is amateurish.
December 20, 2018
Ugh!
There were a staggering amount of grammatical errors, typos and missing words. The heroine really needed to get her act together.
There were a staggering amount of grammatical errors, typos and missing words. The heroine really needed to get her act together.
June 6, 2021
This book was poorly edited, had several extremely toxic characters, and quite a few unrealistic scenarios. It was a challenge to get through and I frequently considered putting it down for good, but I struggle to leave books partially read. I finished it, but the ending was mediocre along with the rest of the plot.
March 21, 2019
I got up to 17% in this but it really isn't for me. I didn't find heaps of mistakes in it or anything, it just had too much sex in it for me. They're either discussing it or at it ! It really is a little farfetched as well, that she'd have the ex stashed in the bedroom as she has "relations" with the new bloke in the lounge !
Speed walking needed hyphenating, jam needs to be jamb, days worth needed an apostrophe but that was it for errors that I spotted, so really not horrendous at all.
It was just a bit too comedic and daft for my liking. I have another downloaded by the same author that sounds more serious, a murder mystery, so I'm hoping I'll prefer that as it's more my "thing."
Speed walking needed hyphenating, jam needs to be jamb, days worth needed an apostrophe but that was it for errors that I spotted, so really not horrendous at all.
It was just a bit too comedic and daft for my liking. I have another downloaded by the same author that sounds more serious, a murder mystery, so I'm hoping I'll prefer that as it's more my "thing."
January 24, 2021
This book was an easy read. I enjoyed the quirky characters and the storyline.
January 7, 2019
I’m not sure about this book. I found Elizabeth and Austin annoying as they didn’t seem to love each other and their getting engaged didn’t seem right. Austin seemed more in love with the idea of getting married than actually wanting to be with Elizabeth.
August 18, 2019
DNF at 20%. The protagonist is an idiot, her best friend is a bully, neither of the men in the love triangle are a decent human being, AND the author's a fat-phobe. Hard pass.
December 8, 2017
Lizzie is neurotic, witty, and keeps it real. Her ex is this snooty British bastard that did something bad to her, which is the whole reason they got divorced. What kind of guy begs an ex-wife to crash at her place for a while? Well, he literally had no place to go, I guess.
Living with an ex again? Oh, Lord! Note to self: Change the locks. :D
Now she has no job, she’s living with her ex, and she’s not even getting any writing done. She’s compulsive about her sticky and mental notes, which is the whole basis of “notes to self.�
It was unbelievable how Lizzie gets into these jams, which make her story so funny. What was the incident that resulted in Lizzie’s divorce and unemployment? In the end, she tells you and that just changes your whole attitude about the whole thing. As the story progresses, Lizzie daydreams on the memories she had about Simon (her ex), which distracts from her relationship with her current boyfriend. Maybe she’s not entirely over her ex?
This was a good story, relatable and full of humor; however, I could not get past the errors throughout the book. I can overlook a few here and there, but this one had a lot. That’s really what brought my rating down to a 4, otherwise, this would’ve been a 5.
Living with an ex again? Oh, Lord! Note to self: Change the locks. :D
Now she has no job, she’s living with her ex, and she’s not even getting any writing done. She’s compulsive about her sticky and mental notes, which is the whole basis of “notes to self.�
It was unbelievable how Lizzie gets into these jams, which make her story so funny. What was the incident that resulted in Lizzie’s divorce and unemployment? In the end, she tells you and that just changes your whole attitude about the whole thing. As the story progresses, Lizzie daydreams on the memories she had about Simon (her ex), which distracts from her relationship with her current boyfriend. Maybe she’s not entirely over her ex?
This was a good story, relatable and full of humor; however, I could not get past the errors throughout the book. I can overlook a few here and there, but this one had a lot. That’s really what brought my rating down to a 4, otherwise, this would’ve been a 5.
January 2, 2019
I would give this 3.5 stars, so I'll round it to 4. I found myself sadly relating to Elizabeth. She's very naive, exceptionally trusting, and quick to justify the bad behavior of others. That's me! I really liked this plot because of how real and raw her situation was. I know what it's like to be divorced, struggle to pay bills, lose a job, and most everything else Elizabeth goes through in this book. Despite the reality- based plot, this book remains light and fun. It's a great beach or airplane read. I do have two negative comments, though: 1) there was at least a dozen typos in this book. Personally, I just skim over them because I'm human and make mistakes, too. 2) The book could have used chapter titles or something to tell the reader the timeline. The story jumped weeks, months and years ahead at times without any prior warning.
January 8, 2019
I personally hate flashbacks in books and in movies. This book was present day followed by a flashback or a memory, repeat and rinse the entire book, so that was one strike against it right away. I got so bored with this book that I ended up skipping the flashbacks. The thin plot held up okay even with skipping half the book. I then just arrived at a point where I just could not buy into the bullshit of the main character any longer (or her obnoxious and rude best friend) and gave up on the book. I don't even care at this point how the story ends.
December 13, 2018
Fantastic plot! Funny and heartwarming! Full of twists and turns, lots of surprises, and mayhem! Loved the way she keeps going back to the memories of her ex! Between the new fiancé, ex husband, new guy best friend, and backstabbing old best friend! Sounds like a real life adventure! Loved all the mis adventures she endures to get to the end! Loved the way the ex refused to give up! Will true love win, or will the lies continue! Read and see! Wow! Best book ever!!
January 8, 2019
DNF. This book is not for me or any self-respecting woman. The premise is a girl who is currently dating someone when her ex-husband drops back into her life. From the part I read it starts a series of events where she's conflicted about who to choose. Seeing as how both of her options are total losers and I wouldn't waste a single second with either one of them and she is a girl with major self-esteem issues, I could not relate and I had no tolerance and did not finish the book.
September 10, 2022
Note to Self: Change the Locks--R
Violence-No
Language-230+ including FBombs (20) and deity
Sex-Yes. Also some crass phrases
Undefined relationship. Last 5% is an ad for a new book.
I did NOT like the heroine. There is nothing heroic about her. She's a mixed-up, rudderless, twenty-something who can't seem to come clean about anything. I wish she'd had more of a backbone, morals, scruples.
Hard Pass
Violence-No
Language-230+ including FBombs (20) and deity
Sex-Yes. Also some crass phrases
Undefined relationship. Last 5% is an ad for a new book.
I did NOT like the heroine. There is nothing heroic about her. She's a mixed-up, rudderless, twenty-something who can't seem to come clean about anything. I wish she'd had more of a backbone, morals, scruples.
Hard Pass
June 8, 2018
This was a fun read. I immediately liked the main character, Elizabeth and despised the ex-husband Simon. He grew on me throughout the book, unlike the fiance, Austin. I hated that Elizabeth put up with her 'best friend' and all of the horrible things she did. The story was cute and had some twists at the end that I wasn't expecting.
January 16, 2021
Elizabeth finding herself
I liked it but it was not thrilling so I rated it a 4. Elizabeth was trying to recover from her first marriage to Simon. Austin was a traveling baseball player which she became engaged to but not totally in love with. In the end she gets what she really wants. Read to find out what that is!
I liked it but it was not thrilling so I rated it a 4. Elizabeth was trying to recover from her first marriage to Simon. Austin was a traveling baseball player which she became engaged to but not totally in love with. In the end she gets what she really wants. Read to find out what that is!
February 11, 2019
Enjoyed reading
I really enjoyed this book. I read a lot of chick lit. This one had the right amount of romance and comedy. What it didn't have was too much sex, foul language, weight issues, or anything really to do with a bakery. Can't wait to read another one of her books!
I really enjoyed this book. I read a lot of chick lit. This one had the right amount of romance and comedy. What it didn't have was too much sex, foul language, weight issues, or anything really to do with a bakery. Can't wait to read another one of her books!
June 5, 2019
Okay
There were parts I found the writing very flat and the character was irritating. Perhaps u busy didn't agree with the actions of them, but I was just frustrated by the end. Ready for the book to be over
There were parts I found the writing very flat and the character was irritating. Perhaps u busy didn't agree with the actions of them, but I was just frustrated by the end. Ready for the book to be over
January 30, 2021
Entertaining
This was a fun ride with a lot to say about how not everyone is for you. I can easily relate to Elizabeth, even if I haven't had the same experiences. Good for a nice day in or when you feel a bit burnt out.
This was a fun ride with a lot to say about how not everyone is for you. I can easily relate to Elizabeth, even if I haven't had the same experiences. Good for a nice day in or when you feel a bit burnt out.
October 4, 2023
not a fan favorite
Reasons:
1) none of the characters are particularly likable
2) lots of copy editing errors in a book with a copy editor protagonist!
3) the transition between the story just ending and the revelatory epilogue was clunky.
Reasons:
1) none of the characters are particularly likable
2) lots of copy editing errors in a book with a copy editor protagonist!
3) the transition between the story just ending and the revelatory epilogue was clunky.
December 14, 2018
Entertaining
This was a good story with a twist I want expecting. It kept me wondering what was going to happen next. The suspense and ending was wonderful.
This was a good story with a twist I want expecting. It kept me wondering what was going to happen next. The suspense and ending was wonderful.
January 3, 2019
Note to self
Throughly enjoyed this book. The story is lovely. Feel it could be carried on.
Will be reading more by this author.
Throughly enjoyed this book. The story is lovely. Feel it could be carried on.
Will be reading more by this author.
January 9, 2019
So many flashbacks. Not the book for me.
January 9, 2019
Loved this book. It was a proper girly, romantic story.
February 27, 2019
Good read
Good read. I enjoyed this light hearted story. The characters were interesting and unpredictable. The story was funny and sad at the same time.
Good read. I enjoyed this light hearted story. The characters were interesting and unpredictable. The story was funny and sad at the same time.
May 27, 2019
I abandoned it because I have better books to read.
January 20, 2020
Not sure how I feel about the book. At same stage I enjoyed reading it. The next the characters were a bit on the common side. Really not sure what to think about it. I feel 2 stars sums it up.
February 2, 2021
This was a funny book to read. I enjoyed reading it and kept reading to see what would happen next.
June 1, 2021
Was a quick easy read . Just what was needed for a sunny day
August 16, 2021
Easy fun read
GreAt characters! Good storyline! Couldn't put it down. Humorous, charming. And what a best Friend!
Read this book. You won't be disappointed.
GreAt characters! Good storyline! Couldn't put it down. Humorous, charming. And what a best Friend!
Read this book. You won't be disappointed.
August 26, 2021
A great read
This was a quick easy beach read. Kept my interest and had a little twist at the end. I enjoyed author and will read other books of hers.
This was a quick easy beach read. Kept my interest and had a little twist at the end. I enjoyed author and will read other books of hers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
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