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cakt1991 's review for:
How to Get a Life in Ten Dates
by Jenny L. Howe
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
How to Get a Life in Ten Dates has a fun premise, and one I resonated with. Dating as a woman or femme person is already hard with all the incels and redpill dudes out there (see: “your body, my choice” that became their slogan post-2024 election), but dating comes with its own set of challenges when you’re a fat person. While I’ve removed myself from the dating pool long ago, I loved seeing a story of someone who had a similar body type to mine going through the pitfalls of the modern dating scene.
Haleigh is definitely a complex, not always likable character, and she deals with some inner negative thoughts, both toward herself and others. And it’s just great to see someone who doesn’t have her life completely “together,” whose life is sometimes even a complete mess.
Jack is pretty great, and I liked his tension with Haleigh due to an encounter in their past. However, he also simply tries to be supportive of what she wants throughout, particularly where her dating troubles are concerned. The romance that built up while she was meant to be searching for someone else was subtle, but sweet.
The mental health rep is also great, and I appreciate that Howe showed nuanced depictions of two friends (turned lovers) with anxiety disorders, on top of Jack having OCD.
The “dating” aspect is fun, although I had mixed feelings about its impact on pacing. While she was breezing through random people, with each possible connection ending badly, I found myself cringing, but as soon as she found someone vaguely promising, the story switched gears and became more engaging. This did turn the dynamic into a love triangle for a while, but I had no doubt that things would work out.
On a final note, while Howe’s books are all standalones, I like the references to her past works, particularly to On the Plus Side. I DNFed the ARC for that one early on in the SMP boycott, likely for similar pacing issues that plagued this book, although I had initially planned on simply withholding the review if I did finish it. I am now intrigued to go back and give it a second chance.
As for this particular book, it’s a bit of a slow-burn, but it’s ultimately worth it. I recommend it to readers who enjoy romances with compassionate mental health and fat rep.