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The Husband Trainer
Kate unintentionally trains men to be the perfect husband… but they always marry the next girl. This time, she’s writing the ending.
After her long-term actor boyfriend dumps her and marries his co-star, Kate drowns her heartbreak in Friends reruns, ice cream, and tequila on a girls' trip to Cabo, where she makes a painful realization: she’s been unknowingly prepping men for their future wives.
An underappreciated writer stuck proofreading articles instead of writing her own, she pitches a bold idea to her intimidating boss: an article about her accidental role as a “husband trainer.”
Her first solo assignment?
Date Romeo.
Yes, that’s his real name. Jet-setting, boat-owning, heartbreak-wielding Romeo, and transform him into marriage material… for her boss.
The rules:
1. Husband train him.
2. Don’t fall for him.
3. Get the story and land the dream promotion.
But when Bryan, the pilot from her past and possibly the one who got away, reenters her life, Kate finds herself caught between two men, and one big lie. As hearts tangle and secrets surface, Kate is forced to choose between the career she’s always wanted, and the man who just might be her happily ever after.
Witty, heartfelt, and wildly entertaining, The Husband Trainer is a romantic comedy about turning pain into purpose—and learning that the best love stories aren’t always the ones we set out to write.
After her long-term actor boyfriend dumps her and marries his co-star, Kate drowns her heartbreak in Friends reruns, ice cream, and tequila on a girls' trip to Cabo, where she makes a painful realization: she’s been unknowingly prepping men for their future wives.
An underappreciated writer stuck proofreading articles instead of writing her own, she pitches a bold idea to her intimidating boss: an article about her accidental role as a “husband trainer.”
Her first solo assignment?
Date Romeo.
Yes, that’s his real name. Jet-setting, boat-owning, heartbreak-wielding Romeo, and transform him into marriage material… for her boss.
The rules:
1. Husband train him.
2. Don’t fall for him.
3. Get the story and land the dream promotion.
But when Bryan, the pilot from her past and possibly the one who got away, reenters her life, Kate finds herself caught between two men, and one big lie. As hearts tangle and secrets surface, Kate is forced to choose between the career she’s always wanted, and the man who just might be her happily ever after.
Witty, heartfelt, and wildly entertaining, The Husband Trainer is a romantic comedy about turning pain into purpose—and learning that the best love stories aren’t always the ones we set out to write.
376 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 8, 2025
22 people are currently reading
79 people want to read
About the author
Marikah Baran
1 book11 followersMarikah Baran is a hopeless romantic who believes in fairytales and happily ever afters. Based in Los Angeles with her husband and baby Theo, she wrote The Husband Trainer, her debut romcom novel, loosely inspired by her dating adventures. She loves storytelling, cooking, Pilates, natural wine, and fresh-baked cookies.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
August 8, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
ARC review!! if you love a fairytale hea romance then this book is for you! i finished it in a day…. literally a day. i’m a sucker for romance books and this one did not disappoint!!
i honestly have no complaints about this book!! i feel like way it was written perfectly complimented the plot and the characters and really fit with the fairytale vibes of this book!
i really loved the character development, especially with the FMC. it is so so easy to lose sight of yourself while dating in this day and age and i feel like Marikah managed to explore that topic really well with kate (and her husband trainer tendencies😂) while still keeping this a lighthearted and easy read!! i also really enjoyed slowly watching kate and mallory’s friendship form!! i feel like kate’s the golden retriever to mallory’s black cat and im so here for it!!
this is honestly the perfect book! if you’re in a reading slump… pick this up! if you’re in need of a pallet cleanser… PICK THIS UP!!
Marikah thank you so so much for reaching out to me about reading this book! you have written an absolutely amazing book and i can’t wait to read more from you🤍
ARC review!! if you love a fairytale hea romance then this book is for you! i finished it in a day…. literally a day. i’m a sucker for romance books and this one did not disappoint!!
i honestly have no complaints about this book!! i feel like way it was written perfectly complimented the plot and the characters and really fit with the fairytale vibes of this book!
i really loved the character development, especially with the FMC. it is so so easy to lose sight of yourself while dating in this day and age and i feel like Marikah managed to explore that topic really well with kate (and her husband trainer tendencies😂) while still keeping this a lighthearted and easy read!! i also really enjoyed slowly watching kate and mallory’s friendship form!! i feel like kate’s the golden retriever to mallory’s black cat and im so here for it!!
this is honestly the perfect book! if you’re in a reading slump… pick this up! if you’re in need of a pallet cleanser… PICK THIS UP!!
Marikah thank you so so much for reaching out to me about reading this book! you have written an absolutely amazing book and i can’t wait to read more from you🤍
December 31, 2025
I really enjoyed this book! It was giving 2000s rom com nostalgia! Pros: the story was easy to read and the chapters were short, which is always a plus! Cons: when I tell you it’s a slow burn, I mean it’s SLOOOOOWWWW. However, this book is definitely work staying through the buildup.
January 27, 2026
this was cute, nothing profound so just 2.5 stars
February 17, 2026
if how to lose a guy in ten days was a book, this is it.
so fun and lighthearted. i was laughing and giggling along with the characters and truly appreciated kate’s character development throughout the whole book. i loved the way the title was weaved throughout the story so beautifully and honestly just so grateful that the author dm’d me to read her book because i had no idea this was exactly what i needed!
so fun and lighthearted. i was laughing and giggling along with the characters and truly appreciated kate’s character development throughout the whole book. i loved the way the title was weaved throughout the story so beautifully and honestly just so grateful that the author dm’d me to read her book because i had no idea this was exactly what i needed!
February 11, 2026
Kate, the FMC, trains men to be the perfect husband without knowing it. The men then go on to marry the next girl and she eventually catches wind of her Husband Training tendencies thanks to a bartender in Cabo named Jay (P.S. I wanted Jay as a best friend). When Kate and her sister go to Cabo, she connects with the one ex that isn't married: Bryan, a handsome pilot who she had quite the passion with. When Kate and Bryan re-connect they realize the passion is still there. Kate, a passionate writer, decides to pitch to her boss (Mallory) an article regarding her training abilities and her boss loves the idea, but with one exception: Kate husband trains Mallory's ex, Romeo. Romeo is a french, goregous man with a big heart for his family. I will leave the summary there to not spoil anything for you future readers.
This cute romance book was a great read. I have been in a reading slump lately and this book was my saving grace. The author did an incredible job writing it and was very creative in the ways she gave us information. The plot was great and I loved the fairytale vibes I got.
Kate had incredible character development and I loved that she realized how difficult dating is. Kate realized that while soulmates may still exist, the path leading to your soulmate was meant to happen for you to learn to love yourself. I absolutely loved how she found her self worth in this book. Kate was incredible relateable and I loved her "Kate-isms" because I have them too. I loved the friendship that bloomed, the lessons learned, and the importance of self love. This book had me giddy and tearing up at points. This was the perfect book that I almost read in one sitting. It is a slow burn, but I loved that because the plot was phenomenal and the writing was on point. I wouldn't change a thing about this book. It was a unique idea that I hope becomes a movie one day because I would absolutely DEVOUR this and watch thousands of times. Highly recommend the read and love the fairytale ending/self growth.
This cute romance book was a great read. I have been in a reading slump lately and this book was my saving grace. The author did an incredible job writing it and was very creative in the ways she gave us information. The plot was great and I loved the fairytale vibes I got.
Kate had incredible character development and I loved that she realized how difficult dating is. Kate realized that while soulmates may still exist, the path leading to your soulmate was meant to happen for you to learn to love yourself. I absolutely loved how she found her self worth in this book. Kate was incredible relateable and I loved her "Kate-isms" because I have them too. I loved the friendship that bloomed, the lessons learned, and the importance of self love. This book had me giddy and tearing up at points. This was the perfect book that I almost read in one sitting. It is a slow burn, but I loved that because the plot was phenomenal and the writing was on point. I wouldn't change a thing about this book. It was a unique idea that I hope becomes a movie one day because I would absolutely DEVOUR this and watch thousands of times. Highly recommend the read and love the fairytale ending/self growth.
August 13, 2025
4.5 STARS
If you love fairytale-feeling romances, happily ever afters, and stories reminiscent of ‘How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days’, then this story is for you!
The Husband Trainer follows Kate, a selfless proofreader eager to write her own articles, and her dating adventures after ending a serious, four-year relationship. Ready to risk it all, she approaches her boss to pitch an article -- which casts her straight into Romeo, a dreamy French bachelor with a wandering eye, and his lavish life.
I loved this story and enjoyed the read! The romances are real and relatable, like a mirror to what dating can be like in our modern age! The writing is eloquently detailed and balances entertaining the audience with a lighthearted tale while also investigating Kate’s “husband training” tendencies. Kate is also a lovely FMC to follow! She is a “spoonful of sugar”, as Romeo would say.
Other characters I loved were her sister, Claire, and Elvin. I think we would all love a friend like Elvin -- the elderly man Kate visits every Saturday. Or, a sibling like Claire! I absolutely loved Claire's ability to 100% be honest with Kate. She kept Kate authentic not only with others, but with herself. Despite Kate getting herself into a fairly sticky situation (and maybe digging deeper into her hole from time to time), I continued to root for her and was thrilled with the ending she received!
If you relate to or enjoy stories like this, then I definitely recommend Marikah Baran’s “The Husband Trainer”!
If you love fairytale-feeling romances, happily ever afters, and stories reminiscent of ‘How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days’, then this story is for you!
The Husband Trainer follows Kate, a selfless proofreader eager to write her own articles, and her dating adventures after ending a serious, four-year relationship. Ready to risk it all, she approaches her boss to pitch an article -- which casts her straight into Romeo, a dreamy French bachelor with a wandering eye, and his lavish life.
I loved this story and enjoyed the read! The romances are real and relatable, like a mirror to what dating can be like in our modern age! The writing is eloquently detailed and balances entertaining the audience with a lighthearted tale while also investigating Kate’s “husband training” tendencies. Kate is also a lovely FMC to follow! She is a “spoonful of sugar”, as Romeo would say.
Other characters I loved were her sister, Claire, and Elvin. I think we would all love a friend like Elvin -- the elderly man Kate visits every Saturday. Or, a sibling like Claire! I absolutely loved Claire's ability to 100% be honest with Kate. She kept Kate authentic not only with others, but with herself. Despite Kate getting herself into a fairly sticky situation (and maybe digging deeper into her hole from time to time), I continued to root for her and was thrilled with the ending she received!
If you relate to or enjoy stories like this, then I definitely recommend Marikah Baran’s “The Husband Trainer”!
February 10, 2026
I got sent this book by the author and I really enjoyed it!
This book follows Kate, a woman working for a magazine in Los Angeles. She is fed up with having to mold every man she dates into husband material, only for them to break up with her and to find their soulmate after leaving her. Feeling a need for inspiration at work, Kate decides to write a non fiction story about her “husband training”. But there’s a catch; her boss Mallory wants Kate to “husband train” her ex-boyfriend Romeo so Mallory can marry him. But as Kate tries to “train” Romeo, she discovers there may be more to him than she thought.
This book felt like a rom com movie. It was realistic, funny and I loved and felt connected to Kate. All of the characters in this story were very realistic and relatable. The character development was fantastic.
I really loved the writing style. It was easy to digest, beautifully writing and very descriptive which made the story more enjoyable.
If you are looking for a romance novel that ticks all the boxes that a perfect romance should, read this one!
This book follows Kate, a woman working for a magazine in Los Angeles. She is fed up with having to mold every man she dates into husband material, only for them to break up with her and to find their soulmate after leaving her. Feeling a need for inspiration at work, Kate decides to write a non fiction story about her “husband training”. But there’s a catch; her boss Mallory wants Kate to “husband train” her ex-boyfriend Romeo so Mallory can marry him. But as Kate tries to “train” Romeo, she discovers there may be more to him than she thought.
This book felt like a rom com movie. It was realistic, funny and I loved and felt connected to Kate. All of the characters in this story were very realistic and relatable. The character development was fantastic.
I really loved the writing style. It was easy to digest, beautifully writing and very descriptive which made the story more enjoyable.
If you are looking for a romance novel that ticks all the boxes that a perfect romance should, read this one!
August 24, 2025
This book was absolutely amazing from start to finish. I loved the whole concept of the husband trainer,it was such a unique idea and made the story feel fresh and exciting. Kate was such a relatable character, and I found myself connecting with her on so many levels. Her strength and vulnerability made her journey unforgettable.
The happy ending was everything I could have hoped for and more, it wrapped up the story in such a beautiful, satisfying way that left me smiling long after I finished. And Romeo? He truly lived up to his name. His charm, loyalty, and devotion to Kate made him a standout character that I won’t forget anytime soon.
This book had me hooked the entire way through. The pacing, the emotions, and the chemistry between the characters all worked together perfectly. It was one of those reads that made me want to stay up late just to see what would happen next. I can’t wait to see what this author writes next, because this story set the bar so high.
The happy ending was everything I could have hoped for and more, it wrapped up the story in such a beautiful, satisfying way that left me smiling long after I finished. And Romeo? He truly lived up to his name. His charm, loyalty, and devotion to Kate made him a standout character that I won’t forget anytime soon.
This book had me hooked the entire way through. The pacing, the emotions, and the chemistry between the characters all worked together perfectly. It was one of those reads that made me want to stay up late just to see what would happen next. I can’t wait to see what this author writes next, because this story set the bar so high.
February 10, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Husband Trainer
The Husband Trainer had a genuinely cute premise, very Hitch meets Never Been Kissed, and I could easily picture it as a light, fluffy rom-com on screen. The setup had a lot of potential, and the story itself was fun enough to keep me turning the pages.
That said, the execution didn’t fully work for me. The book is written in third person omniscient, with POVs shifting constantly, sometimes from paragraph to paragraph, which pulled me out of the story more than once. That style just isn’t for me, and when paired with tense that felt inconsistent, I found myself stopping to orient instead of staying immersed.
Overall, it’s a cute idea with strong rom-com vibes, but the technical choices made it harder for me to fully settle into the story. Enjoyable in parts and cute story.
The Husband Trainer had a genuinely cute premise, very Hitch meets Never Been Kissed, and I could easily picture it as a light, fluffy rom-com on screen. The setup had a lot of potential, and the story itself was fun enough to keep me turning the pages.
That said, the execution didn’t fully work for me. The book is written in third person omniscient, with POVs shifting constantly, sometimes from paragraph to paragraph, which pulled me out of the story more than once. That style just isn’t for me, and when paired with tense that felt inconsistent, I found myself stopping to orient instead of staying immersed.
Overall, it’s a cute idea with strong rom-com vibes, but the technical choices made it harder for me to fully settle into the story. Enjoyable in parts and cute story.
August 8, 2025
4 ⭐️ read!! This book was so wholesome, sweet and so relatable. I related to the FMC and her struggles tremendously. This book made me feel so much from giggling to anger to swooning to tears, I felt it all. I was on the verge of a reading slump from a couple other books I had finished and this was EXACTLY what I needed. This book is for the hopeless romantics who dream of fairytales and swoon worthy men, who believe in love and finding your soulmate. I wish it was longer, I wanted more of the main couple and their relationship.😩 that’s my only complaint is I wish it was longer because I had such a fun time.
October 21, 2025
60% in, I had to DNF. I was an easy read but it was too modern for my liking. I didn't enjoy movies like "How to Lose a Guy..." or shows like "Sex in the City"/Gossip girl" and this book felt like a blend of all those. To be honest, I couldn't relate to the character despite Kate being a modern career driving woman set in my hometown of Los Angeles. Her choices felt deceitful and balancing between 2 men just led to a confrontation I wasn't willing to read through.
Not my cup of tea but I would still recommend this book to those who enjoy those Rom-Coms! It does have all the makings of a good story for this particular genre.
Not my cup of tea but I would still recommend this book to those who enjoy those Rom-Coms! It does have all the makings of a good story for this particular genre.
January 2, 2026
This was a fast paced, heartwarming, romance that will leave you believing in the magical fairy tale ending too! It was an adorable story, and a different take on the normal romance troupe. Kate is supposed to write an article about how she "husband trains" every guy she dates before he goes on to marry the next girl he dates. Her boss tells her to husband train her on/off fling with Romeo, and she'll be rewarded with a highly sought after promotion. But Kate also happens to be seeing someone else on the side. It's a messy but realistic take on this situation, and I didn't want to stop reading. Such a fun, quick, and cute read!
August 8, 2025
The Husband Trainer is the kind of book you sink into and suddenly realize you’ve been smiling the whole time. The premise is clever, the pacing keeps you turning pages, and the characters feel like people you want to grab a drink with — even the ones making questionable choices. It’s got just the right mix of humor, romance, and a little emotional tug to keep it grounded.
This is pure fun fantasy rom-com reading, perfect for a weekend escape or a vacation bag. I found myself wishing there were already a sequel waiting for me — here’s hoping we get another installment soon!
This is pure fun fantasy rom-com reading, perfect for a weekend escape or a vacation bag. I found myself wishing there were already a sequel waiting for me — here’s hoping we get another installment soon!
October 12, 2025
What a fun surprise! The Husband Trainer has the perfect mix of humor, heartbreak, and self-discovery. Kate thinks she’s just “training” men to be better partners—but it turns out she’s the one who needs a little re-training when it comes to love and confidence.
I loved the fresh spin on the rom-com trope and the idea of turning heartbreak into a writing assignment and maybe finding something real along the way 👀
A charming debut with heart, humor, and just enough spice to keep things interesting.
I can’t wait to read more from Marikah Baran.
I choose you 💕
I loved the fresh spin on the rom-com trope and the idea of turning heartbreak into a writing assignment and maybe finding something real along the way 👀
A charming debut with heart, humor, and just enough spice to keep things interesting.
I can’t wait to read more from Marikah Baran.
I choose you 💕
October 17, 2025
This wasn’t my typical read, but what a pleasant surprise. I absolutely loved it. It was such a good break from for my mind. Charming, light, pleasant, and brought many smiles. The characters were developed wonderfully and I liked how the author showed dedication, loyalty and love. Highly recommend this book, it’s a wonderful and fun read and you can finish it within a day because of how well it flows.
January 28, 2026
This book is for all the rom com lovers out there! I loved the growth of each character and it made me love them all that much more! I can relate so much to Kate and I feel like many people will too when they read about her and her relationships. It’s so easy to lose yourself in relationships and to think that it’s your responsibility to fix people. I really enjoyed how that was explored with Kate🩷
Thank you so much Marikah for sending me a copy!!
Thank you so much Marikah for sending me a copy!!
August 11, 2025
I am so happy I ran into this book. I spent the weekend at the beach and this was the perfect read.
It is one of those books you pick up and don't want to put down. It was so good that I didn't want it to end. The story is so relatable as I am sure many women (including myself) have found ourselves in similar relationships.
Can't wait to see what else is to come from this author.
It is one of those books you pick up and don't want to put down. It was so good that I didn't want it to end. The story is so relatable as I am sure many women (including myself) have found ourselves in similar relationships.
Can't wait to see what else is to come from this author.
October 3, 2025
Highly recommend! What a great and fun Romance read. I loved all the characters minus 1 or 2 because of the decisions that were made. I loved how everyone got what they deserve. It was a fast paced read I didn’t want to put it down and when I did it I wanted to pick it up because I wanted to know what is going to happen next. I will read more from this author.
October 16, 2025
Just finished reading The Husband Trainer in one sitting — and wow. Charming, hilarious, and heartfelt — Kate’s journey had me laughing and nodding, lost in her encounters (and entanglements), feeling all the feels. Fun, while effortless, and empowering. Can't wait to see what the author writes next!
December 31, 2025
If you love a good rom-com with a fairytale ending, this book is absolutely for you.
This is Marikah Baran’s debut novel, and I loved it from start to finish. The writing is engaging, the character development is strong, and the story plays out so vividly that I could easily picture it unfolding like a movie on the big screen—seriously, someone needs to adapt this ASAP.
The story follows Kate, an inspiring and refreshingly relatable protagonist with a unique theory: she “trains” her boyfriends to become the perfect husbands… just not for her, but for the very next woman they date. Enter Romeo—her ultimate test case and the subject of an article she hopes will finally earn her the promotion she’s been chasing. But the question quickly becomes: is Romeo truly trainable, or is he the one teaching Kate what it really means to be the perfect partner?
This story hit close to home and felt incredibly relatable to my early 20s and the dating scene. It was heartfelt, funny, and such an enjoyable read.
I can’t wait to see what Mariah Baran has in store next. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is Marikah Baran’s debut novel, and I loved it from start to finish. The writing is engaging, the character development is strong, and the story plays out so vividly that I could easily picture it unfolding like a movie on the big screen—seriously, someone needs to adapt this ASAP.
The story follows Kate, an inspiring and refreshingly relatable protagonist with a unique theory: she “trains” her boyfriends to become the perfect husbands… just not for her, but for the very next woman they date. Enter Romeo—her ultimate test case and the subject of an article she hopes will finally earn her the promotion she’s been chasing. But the question quickly becomes: is Romeo truly trainable, or is he the one teaching Kate what it really means to be the perfect partner?
This story hit close to home and felt incredibly relatable to my early 20s and the dating scene. It was heartfelt, funny, and such an enjoyable read.
I can’t wait to see what Mariah Baran has in store next. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
January 3, 2026
Easy, funny, fluffy read! I feel like this was such a great palette cleanser, with that little girl mind of the happy ever after most of us girls start our lives with. It was a book to just read through and not think too deep into things. Just enjoy it and learn about the lessons it gives! Very beautiful and very relatable phrases at this point of my life.
Cheers for this book!
Cheers for this book!
February 3, 2026
An emotional and introspective story about heartbreak, healing, and learning to choose yourself. The Husband Trainer explores the dynamics of over-giving in relationships and the difficult process of moving on. Readers who enjoy character-driven women’s fiction may find this relatable and engaging. Thank you to the author for the ARC!
August 8, 2025
Just fabulous!!!!! Truly comical but spot on. Every single woman can relate! This is a wonderful beach read. I couldn't put it down! And so realistic because it's happened to us all!!! We know how to train our men but can we keep them?! For you to find out!
August 8, 2025
This book is perfect for fans of Disney fairytales. The storyline kept me invested and once I picked it up, it was hard for me to put down. I found the characters enjoyable, each with their own distinct personalities. I can’t wait to hear more from this author. 🥰✨
August 8, 2025
I read this book as an arc and loved it! The fairytale, Prince Charming lover in me loved this book. I read this book in less than 24 hours. It’s very cute and flirty. The MMC is definitely a modern day Prince Charming.
August 8, 2025
I love a book I can pick up and devour on the plane when traveling. This was exactly what I was looking for! It’s super relatable and funny and light. I loved this one! Definitely suggest diving into this if you want something to grab you!
October 23, 2025
The first about 25% was a really slow start but after that the book picked up really quickly. I’m not a fan of 3rd person but this was an easy and fast paced read. This was a perfect cheerful happy ending.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 24, 2025
This book may start off like a fairytale, but it’s definitely not. Following Kate through her dating journey turns out to be the ride of your life. I finished this book in just 2 days! Kate is relatable, funny, sweet and all the things!
December 24, 2025
This book was so funny and hilarious the entire time! Our main character Kate is 29 years old and when I’m reading this I’m the same age as her. I can’t relate to what she goes through so I enjoyed reading about her relationship issues. Every unexpected turn had me laughing and I enjoyed it!
January 7, 2026
Don’t let the cover fool you, this isn’t smut at all. In fact, this story is very Disney whimsy, awkward moments, and happily ever after.
If you’re looking for a short, sweet romcom this is it!
A tale as old as time, but with a cute twist.
Predictable, but cute!
If you’re looking for a short, sweet romcom this is it!
A tale as old as time, but with a cute twist.
Predictable, but cute!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews