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3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-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:
Complicated
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted
medium-paced
So I liked the other book I read by this author and was excited for this one. I don't know if I just wasn't in the mood or what, but it wasn't hitting me in a way that I cared whether I kept reading or not. So I decided to DNF and move on. Other people might really like it though, like I said I liked the last one I read, so you might still read it if you liked her other stuff.
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
This book was a cute and fluffy romance. It’s perfect for readers who want a light, easygoing read. The story follows Haleigh as her friends and family set her up on a series of dates, many of which are hilariously disastrous. While the focus on her dates didn’t fully connect with me, I did enjoy the humor and her journey.
I loved Haleigh as a protagonist. She’s plus-size, but her size isn’t treated as a big issue, which felt refreshing. The mental health representation, especially around anxiety and OCD, was also done well. I enjoyed seeing the growth in Haleigh and Jack’s relationship over the years as their history unfolded.
Since so much of the book focused on the dates, I didn’t feel as connected to Jack or the romance. I prefer romance stories with more emotional depth, and I would have liked more time spent on their connection. Still, the side characters were charming and added a lot to the story.
Overall, this was a fun and entertaining read. It’s great for anyone who loves humor, lighthearted romance, and relatable characters with real growth.
I loved Haleigh as a protagonist. She’s plus-size, but her size isn’t treated as a big issue, which felt refreshing. The mental health representation, especially around anxiety and OCD, was also done well. I enjoyed seeing the growth in Haleigh and Jack’s relationship over the years as their history unfolded.
Since so much of the book focused on the dates, I didn’t feel as connected to Jack or the romance. I prefer romance stories with more emotional depth, and I would have liked more time spent on their connection. Still, the side characters were charming and added a lot to the story.
Overall, this was a fun and entertaining read. It’s great for anyone who loves humor, lighthearted romance, and relatable characters with real growth.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-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
It is not often that I read romance novels where the final couple ends up being a cis man and a cis woman, but this one is something fun and comforting. In Howe’s latest romance release, How to Get a Life in Ten Dates, 25-year-old Haleigh is on a string of bad first dates. With her sister’s engagement party looming in the distance, her and her childhood best friend, Jack, scheme up a challenge for her friends and family: set Haleigh up on 10 first dates, and if none of them go well, Haleigh is allowed to go on her romantic retirement in peace. The only complication? She has been in love with Jack for years. Will this finally be her opportunity to get over him, or will this be what ruins their friendship once and for all?
Starting with the good, because there was so much good in this book. I loved the fat representation with Haleigh and Jack’s characters, and I thought Haleigh’s complete disregard for gender and physical appearance when it came to who she dates added a lot of depth to her character. Every person she encounters she evaluates not on how they physically present to the world, but in how they interact with and understand each other even in their fleeting, sometimes awful, encounters. I did find Haleigh lovable, especially at her most anxious, especially when she was “messy.” I am not used to straight male love interests, so I’m glad that Jack was obsessed with her because that’s exactly how a male love interest should act towards the female protagonist. I also need more of Brian — Jenny Howe, give us the spin off — and he was possibly my favorite character of the entire book. This book was overall just a really lighthearted read even when the characters were dealing with mental health issues, and it made for a quick rainy day read.
I did find it strange that the FMC was so young and so hyper-focused with finding a partner, and that her family perpetuated this. She comes from a family that expects success and stability in their careers, and yet they think she must cling to a man (or a partner)? It just seemed a bit off. I also thought that Haleigh and Jack’s career panics made them more relatable MCs, but I do think neither of them got a truly satisfying ending in that respect. I wish these points were a bit more fleshed out, but I didn’t find that it took me out of the moment while reading. I still liked this book and would recommend it for anyone looking for more body diversity in their romance reading!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sending me an eARC in exchange for my honest review. I can’t wait to read more from Jenny Howe.
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
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
Haleigh is tired of dating so she has five friends / family members set her up on two dates each for a total of 10 dates. The caveat is that when all of these dates go horribly, they need to leave her alone for being single cause dating in the 21st century on apps is hard especially in her experience as a plus-sized woman. However, it doesn't all go to plan when two of the dates go particularly well (creating a love V, not a triangle exactly).
I LOVED this book! Jenny Howe does it again! I loved the creativeness of the dates, the good and the bad ones. I love all the characters, I felt connected to every one of them. And I have to say I know this is a slow-burn friends-to-lovers but I absolutely was rooting for the other guy up until Jenny Howe found a lovely way to let him down easy for me and for Haleigh. Also, the key symbolism for Haleigh's anxiety really resonated with me. Messy can be beautiful. Thank you for this masterpiece.
I LOVED this book! Jenny Howe does it again! I loved the creativeness of the dates, the good and the bad ones. I love all the characters, I felt connected to every one of them. And I have to say I know this is a slow-burn friends-to-lovers but I absolutely was rooting for the other guy up until Jenny Howe found a lovely way to let him down easy for me and for Haleigh. Also, the key symbolism for Haleigh's anxiety really resonated with me. Messy can be beautiful. Thank you for this masterpiece.
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I loved this book! Haleigh Berkshire is a 25-year-old plus-size woman, enjoying life but feeling put down by her friends and family who don’t think her job(s) or dating choices are every good enough. She’s been in love with her best friend Jack for years, but agrees to let her family and friends set her up with ten men or women to go on dates with. This is such a fun friends-to-lovers romance and I loved Haleigh and Jack. Haleigh is so real!
emotional
funny
hopeful
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