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kate_ocean97's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kristinshires's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
3.75
batshit crazy reactions to cheating AND a cheesy romance story???? word
thephdivabooks's review
4.0
A lot of contemporary romance delivers on the light notes, sometimes on the steam, and can verge on the unserious end of the spectrum, which is why they are so fun. If You Ask Me delivers more than that and I’d actually consider it contemporary fiction with a romance storyline, rather than contemporary romance outright. I found it to be one of those rare books that is well-rounded and could hit in two or three genre.
The story itself markets as a romantic comedy, but it’s also one of those books where the romance plotline could be removed, and it would be just as good. At its core, this is actually a story about a woman who is pulled to her lowest point, and how she pulls herself back up and finds a way to be happy with the life she has, even if it isn’t the life she expected.
If You Ask Me follows Violet Covington, a writer who pens a popular advice column in North Carolina called Dear Sweetie. Violet has advice for everything, from relationship issues to interpersonal conflict. Violet has built a great life, with a dream husband, dream house, and dream job. When she learns her column is up for syndication, she’s excited to go home and share the news with her husband Sam.
Violet arrives home early and finds Sam in bed with Shelby, a woman from up the street. Violet does the only thing she can think of in the moment—she pushes her feelings down, refusing to let Sam and Shelby see her cry. So she goes to the shower, steps under the hot spray in her blouse and spanx, and lets her tears flow. Afterwards, she calmly blow dries her hair and reapplies her make up before returning to her bedroom.
Sam is waiting to talk to her, but Violet isn’t interested. She sends him on his way and pushes aside what just happened. But eventually, Violet can’t ignore what happened. Sam begs her to meet to talk, and tells her it’s been going on for months and he is in love with Shelby. This sets off the spiral that Violet had been trying to avoid. She begins to drink more than she should. She burns Sam’s favorite things in a bonfire in the middle of the street in front of their house, drawing her neighbor to call the fire department.
And that’s when she meets Dez, a firefighter who happens to live nearby. Dez is attractive and kind, and he might be just what Violet needs to distract herself and cleanse her mind of Sam. But at work things begin to get more intense. A column she writes expressing what happened to her marriage goes viral. Eventually, her identity is exposed and her life is pushed forward for public consumption.
As Violet continues to spiral, things reach their tipping point at work and with Dez, and Violet sees her whole life finally collapse the way it has been threatening to ever since she discovered Sam’s infidelity. But perhaps in her lowest moment, Violet may finally confront the scariest thing of all—herself. Can Violet face the things that have brought her to this point and find a way to heal and find happiness?
The story touches on infidelity, infertility, alcoholism, and mental health. It handles these issues with authenticity while keeping the story on the lighter side where possible. For those who find these issues triggering due to personal pain, this may not be the book for you. But for many, I think this book will feel cathartic, even if these aren’t your challenges. I found Violet’s story to be a journey of vulnerability. From the beginning she avoids showing (or even experiencing) her heartbreak. But eventually it manifests in other ways. She’s angry, frustrated, injured, and engaging in unhealthy coping through alcohol and other mechanisms.
Peppered throughout are her columns she writes, offering advice that seems to reflect where she is at. The silver lining to this in terms of her career is that she has realized that blunt vulnerability may be more valuable for her readers than her refined but overly polished advice. Despite her improved approach to advice that resonates with viewers, Violet is becoming reckless and once her identity is exposed, shes no longer able to separate Violet the person from her advice column.
Her dark night of the soul comes, and the question is how she will rebuild from it? As all of this is happening, she is also progressing with firefighter Dez, but this plot feels secondary to the story of Violet. Will she be able to heal herself and find love again? And when she does, will it be with Dez, Sam, or someone else?
A great story full of funny moments and emotional ones that all culminate in a journey of reflection and healing. I loved this book!
The story itself markets as a romantic comedy, but it’s also one of those books where the romance plotline could be removed, and it would be just as good. At its core, this is actually a story about a woman who is pulled to her lowest point, and how she pulls herself back up and finds a way to be happy with the life she has, even if it isn’t the life she expected.
If You Ask Me follows Violet Covington, a writer who pens a popular advice column in North Carolina called Dear Sweetie. Violet has advice for everything, from relationship issues to interpersonal conflict. Violet has built a great life, with a dream husband, dream house, and dream job. When she learns her column is up for syndication, she’s excited to go home and share the news with her husband Sam.
Violet arrives home early and finds Sam in bed with Shelby, a woman from up the street. Violet does the only thing she can think of in the moment—she pushes her feelings down, refusing to let Sam and Shelby see her cry. So she goes to the shower, steps under the hot spray in her blouse and spanx, and lets her tears flow. Afterwards, she calmly blow dries her hair and reapplies her make up before returning to her bedroom.
Sam is waiting to talk to her, but Violet isn’t interested. She sends him on his way and pushes aside what just happened. But eventually, Violet can’t ignore what happened. Sam begs her to meet to talk, and tells her it’s been going on for months and he is in love with Shelby. This sets off the spiral that Violet had been trying to avoid. She begins to drink more than she should. She burns Sam’s favorite things in a bonfire in the middle of the street in front of their house, drawing her neighbor to call the fire department.
And that’s when she meets Dez, a firefighter who happens to live nearby. Dez is attractive and kind, and he might be just what Violet needs to distract herself and cleanse her mind of Sam. But at work things begin to get more intense. A column she writes expressing what happened to her marriage goes viral. Eventually, her identity is exposed and her life is pushed forward for public consumption.
As Violet continues to spiral, things reach their tipping point at work and with Dez, and Violet sees her whole life finally collapse the way it has been threatening to ever since she discovered Sam’s infidelity. But perhaps in her lowest moment, Violet may finally confront the scariest thing of all—herself. Can Violet face the things that have brought her to this point and find a way to heal and find happiness?
The story touches on infidelity, infertility, alcoholism, and mental health. It handles these issues with authenticity while keeping the story on the lighter side where possible. For those who find these issues triggering due to personal pain, this may not be the book for you. But for many, I think this book will feel cathartic, even if these aren’t your challenges. I found Violet’s story to be a journey of vulnerability. From the beginning she avoids showing (or even experiencing) her heartbreak. But eventually it manifests in other ways. She’s angry, frustrated, injured, and engaging in unhealthy coping through alcohol and other mechanisms.
Peppered throughout are her columns she writes, offering advice that seems to reflect where she is at. The silver lining to this in terms of her career is that she has realized that blunt vulnerability may be more valuable for her readers than her refined but overly polished advice. Despite her improved approach to advice that resonates with viewers, Violet is becoming reckless and once her identity is exposed, shes no longer able to separate Violet the person from her advice column.
Her dark night of the soul comes, and the question is how she will rebuild from it? As all of this is happening, she is also progressing with firefighter Dez, but this plot feels secondary to the story of Violet. Will she be able to heal herself and find love again? And when she does, will it be with Dez, Sam, or someone else?
A great story full of funny moments and emotional ones that all culminate in a journey of reflection and healing. I loved this book!
slicciardi's review
4.0
I liked this way more than I thought I would! It manages to be light-hearted and complex at the same time.
shakirae's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
marieintheraw's review
3.0
I enjoyed the spontaneity and growth that the main character went through on the this journey. Sometimes, however, it did feel a bit, overly dramatic and often times the drama that is unfolding takes over for anything else you are rooting for, including the romance.
I received an ecopy of this book through Netgalley; however, my opinions are my own
I received an ecopy of this book through Netgalley; however, my opinions are my own
brianne_k's review
3.0
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy. This did not affect my rating.
*3/5*
If You Ask Me is a fun rom-com. I could actually see it being a Netflix movie.
We follow Violet, an advice columnist who writes Dear Sweetie and upon learning some good career
news, goes home early to surprise her husband. Only he is the one to surprise her, by being in bed with another woman – effectively blowing up Violet’s life and their marriage.
Violet tries *unsuccessfully* to keep it together but so many little things just seem to go wrong, and she tends to make bad errors of judgement while in distress. The first of many these bad errors of judgement, Violet sets a few of her husband’s belongings on fire in the middle of the cul-de-sac. She does end up meeting the hunky firefighter Dez though.
Dez is kind, funny, caring, and gorgeous. He comes back to check on Violet later and there is a spark (heh heh).
Throughout the book, Violet makes some bad decisions. Her columns become more... unhinged? I get
that she is going through it. Girl has had it rough. But there is a line and Violet toes that line dangerously close and then is pushed over it. At that point, I was losing respect for her. I didn’t care that she was cheated on, what happened could have had major repercussions for herself and for the ones around her. I don’t think that Violet did enough to atone and come back from that. Another woman in this book did some shady stuff too (and this is not the woman who Violet’s husband Sam was cheating on her with), and I don’t think she deserved to be let off the hook either! All those plots wrapped up too nicely.
Dez… Dez is a dream! But he just always seemed to be there. I get that they lived a couple blocks apart,
but all the coincidental meetings were a bit much. However – their beach day?! TO DIE FOR. Taking her to the State Fair to ride the Tower of Doom to let Violet scream out her frustrations?! LOVED IT!!! Man was absolutely nailing it.
Some things I did love about this were the talks about infertility. It is a hard topic to write, and I like that the author didn’t magically make Violet fertile once she was with the right man and *boom* magically she can get pregnant.
I will continue to read Libby Hubscher’s books because I really enjoy her writing and I like her plots.
*3/5*
If You Ask Me is a fun rom-com. I could actually see it being a Netflix movie.
We follow Violet, an advice columnist who writes Dear Sweetie and upon learning some good career
news, goes home early to surprise her husband. Only he is the one to surprise her, by being in bed with another woman – effectively blowing up Violet’s life and their marriage.
Violet tries *unsuccessfully* to keep it together but so many little things just seem to go wrong, and she tends to make bad errors of judgement while in distress. The first of many these bad errors of judgement, Violet sets a few of her husband’s belongings on fire in the middle of the cul-de-sac. She does end up meeting the hunky firefighter Dez though.
Dez is kind, funny, caring, and gorgeous. He comes back to check on Violet later and there is a spark (heh heh).
Throughout the book, Violet makes some bad decisions. Her columns become more... unhinged? I get
that she is going through it. Girl has had it rough. But there is a line and Violet toes that line dangerously close and then is pushed over it. At that point, I was losing respect for her. I didn’t care that she was cheated on, what happened could have had major repercussions for herself and for the ones around her. I don’t think that Violet did enough to atone and come back from that. Another woman in this book did some shady stuff too (and this is not the woman who Violet’s husband Sam was cheating on her with), and I don’t think she deserved to be let off the hook either! All those plots wrapped up too nicely.
Dez… Dez is a dream! But he just always seemed to be there. I get that they lived a couple blocks apart,
but all the coincidental meetings were a bit much. However – their beach day?! TO DIE FOR. Taking her to the State Fair to ride the Tower of Doom to let Violet scream out her frustrations?! LOVED IT!!! Man was absolutely nailing it.
Some things I did love about this were the talks about infertility. It is a hard topic to write, and I like that the author didn’t magically make Violet fertile once she was with the right man and *boom* magically she can get pregnant.
I will continue to read Libby Hubscher’s books because I really enjoy her writing and I like her plots.
nwmlk10's review
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
maryadaley's review
4.0
Super cute fast read, though as a 20s woman looking to rejoin the dating world I found myself cynical of finding a character quite like Dez, a firefighter in shining armor who quotes Glennon Doyle and has watched New Girl.
Violet’s seemingly perfect life falls apart on the cusp of a promotion when she walks in on her husband in their bed with a neighbor. The tale that follows chronicles her unraveling coping strategies, the knight in shining… fireproof gear, finding out who her true friends are, and sharing a bit more than intended with her newspaper column audience.
Violet’s seemingly perfect life falls apart on the cusp of a promotion when she walks in on her husband in their bed with a neighbor. The tale that follows chronicles her unraveling coping strategies, the knight in shining… fireproof gear, finding out who her true friends are, and sharing a bit more than intended with her newspaper column audience.
oliviaaschmitz's review
1.0
the ending was very dear reader by taylor swift. it was kinda cute but WAY longer than it should be. also the main character is her own worst enemy the amount of times she sabotages herself