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3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for access to the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
How To Get A Life In Ten Dates was a fun, lighthearted romp through the dating life of Haleigh, a young plus-sized woman who loves books and aspires to be an editor, and seems to be cursed with bad dates. She allows her family and friends to set her up on ten blind dates in a bid to buy herself some breathing room from people asking about her love life.
I loved the representation of a larger woman in a romance novel where it wasn’t an issue or part of any challenge to overcome, we can just love Haleigh as she is. She’s funny, spews random facts, and has a strong belief in being true to herself at all times.
The string of bad dates was hilarious and super relatable for anyone who’s ever been single in their twenties or dipped their toes into the dating app scene. It was also refreshing that the badness of the dates was never really at Haleigh’s expense.
There were some things that I didn’t love though. Haleigh projects a lot of her own insecurities onto everyone around her, coming across as a very negative person who always looks for or assumes the worst in others. Her attitude is that she’s just so different that no one else could possibly understand her besides her best friend Jack, and that her shortcomings are just her marching to the beat of her own drum. She lashes out at anyone who tries to help her or relate to her from a different point of view. She’s quick to dismiss dates as potential romantic interests over very minor things, and holds onto a lot of resentment and jealousy towards her sister who has done nothing but try to help her for her entire life. There’s a love triangle and I actually found myself more invested and rooting for the other love interest, and the resolution felt a little unearned with a lack of growth on both Haleigh and Jack’s parts.
Overall, this was a fun read and I’m glad I read this, but really wish we could’ve seen Haleigh grow up a bit despite her constant complaints about adulting
How To Get A Life In Ten Dates was a fun, lighthearted romp through the dating life of Haleigh, a young plus-sized woman who loves books and aspires to be an editor, and seems to be cursed with bad dates. She allows her family and friends to set her up on ten blind dates in a bid to buy herself some breathing room from people asking about her love life.
I loved the representation of a larger woman in a romance novel where it wasn’t an issue or part of any challenge to overcome, we can just love Haleigh as she is. She’s funny, spews random facts, and has a strong belief in being true to herself at all times.
The string of bad dates was hilarious and super relatable for anyone who’s ever been single in their twenties or dipped their toes into the dating app scene. It was also refreshing that the badness of the dates was never really at Haleigh’s expense.
There were some things that I didn’t love though. Haleigh projects a lot of her own insecurities onto everyone around her, coming across as a very negative person who always looks for or assumes the worst in others. Her attitude is that she’s just so different that no one else could possibly understand her besides her best friend Jack, and that her shortcomings are just her marching to the beat of her own drum. She lashes out at anyone who tries to help her or relate to her from a different point of view. She’s quick to dismiss dates as potential romantic interests over very minor things, and holds onto a lot of resentment and jealousy towards her sister who has done nothing but try to help her for her entire life. There’s a love triangle and I actually found myself more invested and rooting for the other love interest, and the resolution felt a little unearned with a lack of growth on both Haleigh and Jack’s parts.
Overall, this was a fun read and I’m glad I read this, but really wish we could’ve seen Haleigh grow up a bit despite her constant complaints about adulting
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I loved this!! I appreciated Haleigh so much, she knew her worth and didn't settle. It was such a joy seeing her and Jake get together and grow together.
The only thing that bothered me just a smidgen was the use of the word "pépère" without any explanation. I'm french so I know what it means, but a bit more context would have been appreciated.
The only thing that bothered me just a smidgen was the use of the word "pépère" without any explanation. I'm french so I know what it means, but a bit more context would have been appreciated.
ARC from NetGalley review
DNF: Started and stopped very quickly. I honestly should’ve read the authors note first, because the content was just not it for me. I really tried to go in open minded but I lost interest very quickly
DNF: Started and stopped very quickly. I honestly should’ve read the authors note first, because the content was just not it for me. I really tried to go in open minded but I lost interest very quickly
3.5 ⭐️
This one started out strong and I really was enjoying the overall premise. Where a group of people get to pick two people each for her to go on a date with. Each date have to fill out a quirky survey to get to know them better before hand. Meanwhile she is struggling with feelings for her bestfriend.
Some of the dates were pretty cute, funny, or quirky. I appreciated that the main FMC was bi and she had dates with both men and women. At about the 60% mark this book started falling apart. It was predictable where it was going but I just didn't feel that tension save chemistry between them. I found myself skimming the last 20% as I lost all interest.
I would be interested in reading more from Jenny Howe. The story was well written and I enjoyed the dialogue a lot. I find that the trope of them getting together off page prior to the story starting and then figuring out later what they are to each other just doesn't work for me I think that is what lost a lot of that build up tension that I enjoy in romance novels. It was a bit deflated before it even started.
Thank you to NetGalley and St Martins Press for this advanced reader copy. My review is voluntarily my own.
This one started out strong and I really was enjoying the overall premise. Where a group of people get to pick two people each for her to go on a date with. Each date have to fill out a quirky survey to get to know them better before hand. Meanwhile she is struggling with feelings for her bestfriend.
Some of the dates were pretty cute, funny, or quirky. I appreciated that the main FMC was bi and she had dates with both men and women. At about the 60% mark this book started falling apart. It was predictable where it was going but I just didn't feel that tension save chemistry between them. I found myself skimming the last 20% as I lost all interest.
I would be interested in reading more from Jenny Howe. The story was well written and I enjoyed the dialogue a lot. I find that the trope of them getting together off page prior to the story starting and then figuring out later what they are to each other just doesn't work for me I think that is what lost a lot of that build up tension that I enjoy in romance novels. It was a bit deflated before it even started.
Thank you to NetGalley and St Martins Press for this advanced reader copy. My review is voluntarily my own.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If you love early 2000s rom-coms, this is a book for you! Think Bridget Jones meets How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.
Haleigh is trying to prove to her family and friends how abysmal the dating world is in 10 dates by having those closest to her including her childhood best friend and secret love of her life set her up on dates.
I thought this was a cute read, but I was left wanting a little more. It’s perfect if you’re wanting a quick palette cleansing read though.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press Griffin for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
Haleigh is trying to prove to her family and friends how abysmal the dating world is in 10 dates by having those closest to her including her childhood best friend and secret love of her life set her up on dates.
I thought this was a cute read, but I was left wanting a little more. It’s perfect if you’re wanting a quick palette cleansing read though.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press Griffin for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
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:
No
I love bisexual chaos. And a plus sized female main character? Oof, you got me Jenny Howe. My favorite part of this book was that the dating experiences were a little over the top, but honestly kind of realistic. Haleigh is honest about her body and isn't ashamed. Her anxiety isn't about how she's going to look on dates, her anxiety is about the future and finances. I loved that Haleigh was confident in who she was and what she wanted.
I also loved the friendship between Jackson and Haleigh, this is easily a friend to lovers' story, but the friendship was so lovely and support. The way that Haleigh had protected Jackson even when they were kids and that she would copy his OCD ticks to help him cope. Swoon. I hate the miscommunication trope, and this book avoids it like the plague. Jackson and Haleigh communicate and are mostly so healthy. The family dynamics felt really natural to me too. I liked that the sisters weren't super close, and that Haleigh felt so much pressure to get her poop in a group. Life is messy and I enjoy a book that embraces that.
The one plot point I didn't love was Haleigh's job search. She had a lot of anxiety about applying and looking for jobs, which is understandable. But the thing that really bothered me was the slip-up she made during one of the interviews was so easily resolvable. She could have just reached out via e-mail! Like if it was your dream job, wouldn't you fight a little? The argument could be made that the anxiety was crippling, but I just didn't get that feeling. It just felt like an unnecessary foil.
This is a fun, quick, romantic book. If you're a fan of friends to lovers, this is for you.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press Griffin for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
I also loved the friendship between Jackson and Haleigh, this is easily a friend to lovers' story, but the friendship was so lovely and support. The way that Haleigh had protected Jackson even when they were kids and that she would copy his OCD ticks to help him cope. Swoon. I hate the miscommunication trope, and this book avoids it like the plague. Jackson and Haleigh communicate and are mostly so healthy. The family dynamics felt really natural to me too. I liked that the sisters weren't super close, and that Haleigh felt so much pressure to get her poop in a group. Life is messy and I enjoy a book that embraces that.
The one plot point I didn't love was Haleigh's job search. She had a lot of anxiety about applying and looking for jobs, which is understandable. But the thing that really bothered me was the slip-up she made during one of the interviews was so easily resolvable. She could have just reached out via e-mail! Like if it was your dream job, wouldn't you fight a little? The argument could be made that the anxiety was crippling, but I just didn't get that feeling. It just felt like an unnecessary foil.
This is a fun, quick, romantic book. If you're a fan of friends to lovers, this is for you.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press Griffin for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Minor: Fatphobia
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I’ve read all of Howe’s books and find her to be a consistent source of joyful, thoughtful rom coms. I enjoyed that this story wove in characters from her earlier novels while also serving as a standalone in its own right. I enjoyed the friends-to-lovers romance but felt like other plot elements were a bit lackluster. While the interconnected characters are cute, I hope Howe branches out a bit more in the future because her MCs and stories are starting to blur together for me. All told, this was exactly the cozy cute book I signed up for and I will be seated for Howe’s next ride.
I received an advanced ebook copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I received an advanced ebook copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Anyone who has suffered through awful dates on the dating apps will enjoy this book! Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martins Press and St. Martins Griffin for this advance reader's copy. Haleigh has been dating for years without success, and her family constantly pressures her to find her match. She is secretly in love with her longtime best friend Jack, but unwilling to act on her feelings after they agreed years prior to stay friends, nothing more. She comes up with a scheme to allow her friends & family members to pick matches for her on the dating apps, and agrees to go out with 10 of them, if her family will give her peace about her love life in return. I loved this premise and could really relate to the challenges of trying to find a decent/nice guy on the apps!
As the experiment progresses, Haleigh actually enjoys some of the dates her family sets her up on. Things get sticky when her friend Jack throws himself in to her pool of candidates. Haleigh struggles with her feelings and how to navigate the situation with Jack. Ultimately she gets her HEA.
I enjoyed this book and thought it had a great plot/premise that many readers will be able to relate to. I did struggle a bit with her family's treatment of Haleigh. Our love lives often don't turn out how we plan, regardless of our effort, and I got frustrated with her family's constant negativity towards Haleigh. I liked the friends to lovers storyline of Haleigh and Jack, but didn't always feel tension or chemistry between them. I love Jenny L. Howe's plus-sized main characters, and the sensitive way she addresses mental health issues. Overall, I enjoyed this book and I really appreciate the opportunity to read and review it!
As the experiment progresses, Haleigh actually enjoys some of the dates her family sets her up on. Things get sticky when her friend Jack throws himself in to her pool of candidates. Haleigh struggles with her feelings and how to navigate the situation with Jack. Ultimately she gets her HEA.
I enjoyed this book and thought it had a great plot/premise that many readers will be able to relate to. I did struggle a bit with her family's treatment of Haleigh. Our love lives often don't turn out how we plan, regardless of our effort, and I got frustrated with her family's constant negativity towards Haleigh. I liked the friends to lovers storyline of Haleigh and Jack, but didn't always feel tension or chemistry between them. I love Jenny L. Howe's plus-sized main characters, and the sensitive way she addresses mental health issues. Overall, I enjoyed this book and I really appreciate the opportunity to read and review it!