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Bad Husband

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From USA Today bestselling author, Shey Stahl, comes a sexy new standalone novel about marriage, love and everything in between. And if there’s one thing he’s good at, it’s getting what he wants.What’s he not so good at?Being a husband. At least that’s what his wife would say.For most of my life I’ve been focused on one goal. Making a name for myself and building a business from the ground up. I’m a hard-working man, confident in my trade and quite frankly pretty awesome if you ask me. Sure, I make mistakes, you’ll see, but I think my dedication helps me out here. It’s the devoted work ethic that has me following through with anything thrown my way.That being said, my wife of the last eight years served me with a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage.Believe me, I’m shocked too. She’s under the impression I don’t care.Ridiculous assumption.I know what you’re thinking, what the hell did I do?Let’s not judge me yet until you know the whole story. The way I see it, in the state of Arizona, I have approximately 60 days to make her fall back in love with me. Easy enough, right?You’ve clearly never met Madison.

308 pages, ebook

Published December 15, 2016

236 people are currently reading
1107 people want to read

About the author

Shey Stahl

63 books2,199 followers
USA Today Bestselling Author, Shey Stahl is a lover of sunsets, dirt track racing, collecting antiques, and the south, where her soul wants to be. Writing is her passion, giving words meaning, and readers experiences they’ll never forget. Currently she’s living in the pacific northwest with her husband and daughter, she can usually be found near a dirt track with an iced coffee in hand.

Visit her website for additional information and keep up to date on new releases: www.sheystahl.com

You can also find her on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/sheystahlauthor

Follow on Instagram: http://bit.ly/2Bdh0t4

Facebook Group: http://bit.ly/2rfQ0cI

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 219 reviews
Profile Image for Snow.
2,323 reviews728 followers
July 7, 2017
4.5 "make it worth it every single day" stars
I have approximately 60 days to make her fall back in love with me

Bad husband is, in a first person, recaptured story of a one man's „wake up“ call, in a way, cause when Ridley Cooper gets a petition for a marriage dissolve aka „divorce“, he's confused and stunned as he doesn't really have a clue as of why would Madison - his wife of 8 years and a mother of his two sons file for a divorce...

He's clueless and he seeks answers, his confusion is abrubtly exchanged with anger and he's adamnt to get to the bottom of this...
When did we become irreconcilably different.

and he has 60 days to make things right if possible before it all ends...
So the way I see it, i have a few options. I can give her the divorce. I can tell her no and string this out with lawyers and make her life miserable, or, I can make her fall back in love with me.

And the games of who's right and who's wrong, whose perception is on the right track, mercilessly continue...we simply acknowledge that both sides of their story are true...
both sides of the story are valid...
both points of views are justifiable from their own perspective...
I think back to everything she's said over the last month, and what led us here. Me working all the time, my lack of presence in a life we created together, the house I didn't finish...

they just got separated on the intersection called „every day life gutter“, they got themselves lost in misunderstanding of what really matters, and what really is the point of shared life and responsibility, commitment and credibility...and the lack of communication just widened the void
When did this happen? When did it get to this that we went from being newlyweds and in love, to these people? When did I become a man obsessed with work and her, a woman afraid to tell her husband how she really felt.

they became strangers to one another and they actually forgot what made them fall in love with each other in the first place...and it takes so little to acknowledge...
My point is when you are here, you're not! I feel like a single mom most of the time. We've grown apart.

I know I've made some mistakes and made you feel alone but I'm asking you not to give up.

When did we become this couple making decisions together but two people living separate lives linked by the two children we've created.


It's not about the female vs. male jobs around the house and outside of it, it's not about who's doing „more“ and who's doing „less“, who brings more into the family and who's not...it's about being „present“ in every segment of your lives as a unity, it's about those little moments /seconds that count, that are precious and flickery just like time, and once they pass, you can't get them back...

And it's a hard work keeping it all together, it's not perfect in a sense everything has to go smooth, it doesn't have to be either, it's about putting your own differencies aside for the greater sense of belonging, the love part doesn't really stop, but it does change, it changes through the stages of „ loving notion“ – and each stage is different and potent in its own form but it doesn't end unless you stop working on it.
Saving a marriage doesn't happen overnight. It takes a lot of hard work, a lot of talking and mostly fighting. Fighting for what you want.

Real love is taking two hearts, two bodies, two souls and creating one that can laugh and have fun together despite what's going on around us.


This was truly a story I related to in some segments, as most people will, especially if you are in any kind of relationship. There are some universal truths common to everybody who share their lives with another person knowing that it takes a sacrifice, and the part that intensifies the love is when you care about the feelings and wellbeing of another just one little bit more than you'd want to feel yourself...and you never ever stop doing that.


I have read only one book by Shey Stahl before and I loved it. This one was more close to familiar subjects in everyday life and might feel a bit personal on some levels and yet it was presented in a fresh, interesting way through out the male's POV speaking directly to the reader, you are a vivid participant in the story and you can't help it but be more invested and involved than you'd usually be.

I liked that very much, despite that the hero was a lovable prick LOL, and sometimes I just wanted to shake him up a bit or slap him, I could understand both sides of their POVs.
Even though, they both had valid points It doesn't work that way, it's not simple, it takes sacrifice, it takes effort and a lot of patience and tolerance...and when one segment is lacking the problems become from „seeming big“ to actually „being huge“

I loved and laughed through the mischiefs and funny moments they went through with their kids (who are truly unique and quite incredible little beings but i have to point out and that was one of the little things that I've noticed and thougt about)

BUT all in all I had so much fun and insightful moments while reading this story that it will most definitely stay with me for a long time.

And there's a perfect song for Ridley and Madison...

listen here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lz9gm...

"Till We Ain't Strangers Anymore"
BON JOVI (feat. LeAnn Rimes)
It might be hard to be lovers
But it's harder to be friends
Baby, pull down the covers
It's time you let me in
Maybe light a couple candles
I'll just go ahead and lock the door
If you just talk to me baby
Till we ain't strangers anymore

Lay your head on my pillow
I sit beside you on the bed
Don't you think its time we say
Some things we haven't said
It ain't too late to get back to that place
Back to where, we thought it was before
Why don't you look at me
Till we ain't strangers anymore

Sometimes it's hard to love me
Sometimes it's hard to love you too
I know it's hard believing
That love can pull us through
It would be so easy
To live your life

With one foot out the door
Just hold me baby
Till we ain't strangers anymore

[Solo]

It's hard to find forgiveness
When we just turn out the light
It's hard to say you're sorry
When you can't tell wrong from right
It would be so easy
To spend your whole damn life
Just keeping score
So let's get down to it baby
There ain't no need to lie

Tell me who you think you see
When you look into my eyes
Lets put our two hearts back together
And we'll leave the broken pieces on the floor
Make love with me baby
Till we ain't strangers anymore

We're not strangers anymore
We're not strangers
We're not strangers anymore


one of my favorite songs...

I repeat, I've had a really good time reading this...as i've also recaptured some of my own experiences...and it made me revised the things we do in every day life...to keep it still rolling...to make it worth the effort...
Profile Image for Rejane.
1,366 reviews62 followers
December 18, 2016
After writing my update,that needs to be short, I was thinking about so many wrong things with the scenario in this book.I just don't want to keep reading. If it's supposed to feel real, maybe it'll work for some. Not for me, though. My actions would be different from the heroine.For starters,I would not just have divorce papers to my husband as a "surprise". But maybe, it's just me. Even if she didn't want to talk to him anymore, or if she was tired of trying to make him see what was wrong (as far as I read I didn't get the feeling she tried that hard, maybe it was implied) at some point, when he was home, I'd tell him I wanted out and already filed for divorce. If this book is trying to resemble real life, real marriage problems, that was a unrealistic and immature. Adding that they have 2 kids. For this 43% I read, the hero made clear they were not short on money, so I think (again, this is me thinking) they should have a house cleaning. Believe me, half of their problems would be "solved"-for lack of better word to use. I have one (I'm not bragging) who comes twice a week.One day she cleans the whole house and the other she cleans only bathrooms, kitchen, tv room and does some laundry. My friends and I say this is a blessing in many marriages. And this couple in The book can afford it. And then, she could try to work on him being more present, more caring, more whatever she wanted. Anyway, 43 % and it didn't get any better. Still running in circles with the hero having the same thoughts and the heroine acting the same way.This is going nowhere. They've been doing and talking abou the same things every freaking page. Add in the mix the cliche bff (bad ass, immature, taking no shit, rude). One would expect someone more mature in this kind of story line. But nope. And then also add a 7 years old kid who has a bright mind and should be in a special school where he could explore his intelligence better. And add also a 3 years old toddler who was kind evil who ran off a cat with his tricycle and killed it and the bff 2 years old son who takes food from your plate, drops it on the floor and kicks your chin and his mother sees nothing wrong, because he did this to the hero who she doesn't like. So far, the reason for her hatred towards the hero is unknown, all we know it began when h and H started dating. Get over yourself and grow up.
1 star for the amount I read was really bad. And it's my right to rate because I paid for it.
For a realistic book it's very unreal. The level of immaturity is high. For everyone in the book.
And based on this, maybe I can believe this marriage will fail
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Bev .
2,230 reviews481 followers
April 29, 2024
When I first started Bad Husband I wasn't too keen on the writing style but as I got into it I absolutely and totally fell in love with Ridley, and as much as I laughed, no - howled at his thought process my heart hurt for him too. Why? Because he was married to and loved a total and utter selfish, manipulative, screaming BITCH and for the first time in a long time I didn't want them to get their HEA. Ridley deserved so very much more than Madison and the shit storm she brought down on not only him and their marriage, but their children. Who does that? Evil, horrible, nasty bitches - that's who. She needed to give an epic grovel, and she didn't which was so disappointing. I'm also thinking the title of the book needs to be Bad Wife, or 101 on Manipulating Your Man Whilst Being a Selfish Bitch rather than Bad Husband!

5 stars for the absolute fun and pleasure I had getting in Ridley's head. Honest to god I was laughing so hard at times I couldn't see for the tears, his thought process was just that funny and so typical of a clueless male who's been broadsided. I don't think I'll even look at a wax job in the same way again . That said I just couldn't stomach or warm to Madison, so I'm calling this 3.75 stars.
Profile Image for Jen ♥.
1,763 reviews972 followers
Read
September 2, 2025
I think this is my first time reading a book where it was told from the MMC's POV, and the way it was written was as if he were talking to the readers. Ngl, it was confusing at first, but I got used to it. He was funny; I'm going to give that to the guy. He also speaks and acts like a college frat boy sometimes, even though he's actually 28. The narration was comical at best. I'm not sure if this is how men's brains work when they do some deep thinking, but he really is hilarious. 😅

But if you're going to look past the mundane things happening in their lives and actually focus on their marriage, I feel like this just went on in circles and nothing really got resolved until the last 10%.

They've been married for eight years, but these two couldn't communicate their problems and hang-ups. They just bottled it up and never discussed anything. He's a workaholic, and she's juggling the house, the kids, and her job. Madi didn't really have to work; Ridley always said he took care of everything, and her job was just something to keep her busy.

Anyway, what I'm trying to say is, both of them contributed to the issues in their marriage. It's not a one-sided thing.

So Madi finally had enough. She loves Ridley, but he has been an absent father and husband for the last few years because he's wrapped up in his work. Talking to him doesn't really make any difference, as everything she said seems to have just gone in one ear and out the other. She needed to finally get his attention and make her point across, and she did that by serving him divorce papers. In reality, she didn't want to dissolve their marriage; she just wanted him to take her seriously and for them to work on their marriage.

But like I said, these two just went in circles. Ridley is finally getting his act together and trying his best to show that he can prioritize his family. Madi, on one hand, is doing nothing. She's not reciprocating or anything. She's even getting more distant. For someone who's hellbent on fixing her marriage, she sure is nonchalant and uninterested in doing her part.

Anyway, when Ridley found out that Madi wasn't seriously going through the divorce, he got upset. He thought she played him, and she apologized to him! Which I didn't understand. I mean, sure, she could've probably talked to him and outright said that there's something wrong with their marriage. But looking back to their past interactions, that method obviously didn't work. So why would she use something that has been tested and proven ineffective? I don't understand where the fury is coming from. But when he calmed down, he blamed himself for not being present and beat himself down, asking what kind of husband he is if his wife couldn't talk to him and had to resort to this method just to get his attention. But yeah, they finally talked with how they're moving forward. Thankfully, both of them are still on the same page and still in love like before.

Overall, the main vibe I got while reading this was very humorous. I just can't take this seriously for the life of me, especially with Ridley's narration thrown in there. He's just so ridiculous. But things eventually got serious in the end, and they found a way to save their marriage.


Notes:
- This is a me thing, but it really comes across as icky that they got into a relationship when Madi cheated on her then boyfriend with Ridley (and the guy wasn't even that bad as bf, at least based on what they said). Ridley was even gloating that he stole her from her boyfriend. Like, is that really something worth bragging about? That kind of speaks a lot about you as a person if you're willing to partake in cheating. Anywaaay, these two met at a Halloween party in college, had ONS, and then eventually got together. It was implied that it was love at first sight for him, but it took her quite some time to be on the same page. They had a surprise pregnancy in their senior year in college and got married before the baby was born. But the math is not mathing. 😂 Senior year—that could mean 22/23, but they're both 28 atm and have been married for 8 years?? Anyhoo, insignificant, please ignore.
- There's OM/OW (but not really). I mean, women kept flirting with Ridley. Although he didn't engage with them, it still annoyed me at times when he found them attractive and described them in vivid detail. Like, I really don't care about them. Why am I wasting time reading about a random women? It's the same thing with Madi; she's not encouraging anyone, but some of the fathers and the coach in her son's football game apparently were attracted to her as well. But tbf, it was more in a sleazy manner because they kept objectifying her, pointing out her tits and ass as if those are the only things women can offer. Still, despite these men and women, the MCs are faithful to each other.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
1,873 reviews6,703 followers
October 7, 2017
★★★½
Bad Husband is an entertaining and real look at the complications of marriage. Many think that the hard part is finding your life partner. It's not. The hard part is the surprising amount of work it takes to keep the partnership functioning long-term. The truth is that both people who enter a relationship are two separate individuals with different histories, different coping mechanisms, different patterns of functioning, different families that modeled what relationships look like, different everything. Harmony will be easy on some days and a challenge on others. Bad Husband shows what a lack of teamwork and communication can lead to: feeling backed into a corner, feeling undervalued, confused, and alone.

While reading, I both loved and hated the main characters. They were both villains and heroes at varying times, and how the husband treated the wife was questionable in my opinion (thus the title). Regardless, I enjoyed Bad Husband. Reading the husband's second-person POV was mostly humorous and it's always good to have a reminder of why it's important to keep trying.

My favorite quote:
"Real love is taking two hearts, two bodies, two souls, and creating one that can laugh and have fun together despite what's going on around us."
Profile Image for Bookabulary.
730 reviews38 followers
January 2, 2017
Wow! What a surprisingly good read. The first time I came across this book, I thought to give it a skip. But after reading great reviews about it, I decided to give it a go. I can't say no to second chance romances anyway.

This story was told in male POV and I always get a kick from that because it doesn't come around very often, especially the good ones. And this book was one of those. Despite the main theme and overall feel being a serious one, I never found the narrative boring. It was actually engaging and easy to go through, so easy that I had to check if this was a full-length novel or a novella since it didn't take me long to finish.

I loved reading all about Ridley's efforts to get back together with his wife. It just went to show that his family was really important to him even with the finality of divorce looming over them. What I actually annoyed me about this was Madison's reason about filing for a divorce. (Although I won't go into more details to avoid giving away spoilers.) Ugh! Whatever happened to talking it out with your partner when things started to feel like they are falling apart? It wasn't like Ridley was an abusive husband. He was just a really busy one. It just irked me that she was a little too immature with how she dealt with things. Eh, but then again we wouldn't have any story to read if otherwise.

But all's well that ends well. I understood Ridley's hurt and disappointment in the end because I felt that he deserved much more than he and his feelings were treated. What is important was that he and Madison finally communicated about their situation, their marriage, and what they wanted out from it. Not to mention that their kids were too adorable and deserved their parents to be together.

Loved this book and would totally recommend it to anyone looking for second chance romances!
Profile Image for Mallory.
1,699 reviews133 followers
May 7, 2017
2 Bad Wife Stars

I'm not going to rehash this book because I might have to throw my phone. I'll just give a few reasons this was only 2 stars.

The biggest reason I wasn't a fan of this book was the writing style. It was very amateur, which is something a writer with lots of books under her belt should have improved. I loved Shay's racing series. The writing was definitely all over the place and outrageous, but it worked. This book just wasn't well written, and given the subject matter I needed more structure and editing. Some of the words were typos and the sentences would be a mess.

Also, there was this one phrase that was a common occurrence in the book that drove me effing nuts!

"You see that guy over there, the one who blah blah blah" or "you see that couple over there, blah blah blah" or "you see that father over there, looking confused and blah blah blah"

It literally happened like 50 times in the book. It got old effing fast! It's one of those things that maybe you start a chapter off with to kind of narrate the scene, but it's not something you should use throughout a book because it loses its meaning or significance. Drove me crazy.

And as for the actual plot, I just didn't get much out of this book. I don't want to give spoilers away in case anyone wants to read this, but until the last 15% or so I didn't really get why Madison wanted a divorce. It wasn't fleshed out because the book is only in Ridley's point of view. But once it got towards the end of the book it sort of made sense? I think. And I kept hoping that Ridley was going to indeed divorce Madison. Hopefully that's not a spoiler since this is a standalone romance. But she really got on my nerves, and when something is revealed toward the end I definitely wanted the divorce to happen. If only because I felt like Ridley worked his ass off and deserved better.

So while this plot and characters weren't really fleshed out and the writing wasn't for me (to put it lightly) I would read something else by this author. But I'll be reading reviews first because the writing style just isn't doing it for me.
Profile Image for ✮ rach ✮.
688 reviews113 followers
December 24, 2016
The problem with having only one point of view means I find it hard to connect with the other main character whose POV I don't have. I loved Ridley, but because we only get his POV, I found it really hard to have any kind of sympathy for Madison. I mean, come on. She was so fucking selfish. He was bending over backwards to make things right between them but she just didn't give a shit! The little regard I did have for her vanished when they went away and she thought it would be better to hang out in the bar with her ex then go to counselling with her husband...which is what SHE had been pushing for ever since SHE filed for divorce.

And Yes, she tells him that he was an absent father and husband, preferring to work ridiculous hours instead. But because that's all in the past and we never get her point of view, i figured she was just being a bitch and overreacting. She put him through hell, but what about how her actions affected her boys, especially their oldest?! I was cheering when he let her have it at the end (I really wish more heroines were like that when their so-called bullshit heroes fuck up) but I was also happy with the ending.

And don't even get me started on Nathalie. Not a character I will ever want to read about. Ever!

I wish I could rate it higher but Madison pissed me off too much. 3.5 stars only.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for DemetraP.
5,856 reviews
February 7, 2017
Other reviews said this book was funny. I didn't think it was funny.

Madison, the wife, files for divorce, her husband decides to win her back. But in my opinion, he didn't try very hard. He helps bring the kids to school, puts them to bed, and goes to soccer practice. All things he should have been doing in the first place. Then he has the nerve to tell her, "I'm trying here." Wow. Doing what you already should have been doing doesn't seem like trying hard to me.

He plans a romantic weekend with couple's counseling. They get lost on the way to the resort and get in a huge fight. Then her ex boyfriend is a therapist there and she misses the couples counseling appointment because she was catching up at the bar with the ex boyfriend. WHAT?!

Frankly, I didn't like either one of the characters very much. He tells her he works so hard so she can drive an 80,000 dollar SUV. He says not once did she say not to spend so much money. He says owning his own business and working 14 hour days 7 days a week isn't what he wants either.

This book just didn't work for me. She tells him at the end of the book that she never wanted a divorce, she just wanted him to wake up and be around more. WHAT?! Don't you try talking about needing him around more first? She says he never listened to her before.

Profile Image for *CJ*.
5,103 reviews626 followers
February 25, 2017
This is the story of Ridley and Madison.
Ridley is a busy dad. So busy that he forgets about his family and kids most of the time..
Until his wife serves him with divorce papers.
I was so angry by so many things in this book.
I mean at one hand, the husband considered coming back to the wife's receptionist.
And on the other hand, the wife was having weekly dinners with the coach and family.
Too much deceit for my comfort. And they had the worst way of working through issues.
Yes there were good scenes like the balls waxing and the epilogue..
But the overall book left me frustrated.
Safe with exceptions
2.25/5
Profile Image for Astha Bhardwaj.
132 reviews25 followers
July 10, 2017
description

Well,this book was one in which I actually read that the women had filed the divorce and the man got a wake up call and he actually tried to save his marriage.Most of the books have women trying to save there marriage which made me give one extra star to the book.

description

At least i didn't have to see one more book with women begging to save the marriage.But this is lacking the thing which is the book is more focused on what Ridley thinks and not on Madison which leave some loop holes in the book and a reason why did Madison file for divorce after such a long time.

No body would file a divorce as a surprise and without any warning until and unless the other person wants to teach a lesson.
This books never showed what Madison actually wanted and made her look like a villein of the story.Her pov was not very en lighting .As she missed the councelling session and went for a drink made her look even more mean and it looked like she was not trying to save the marriage rather she was the one who was more inclined to end it.

description

Would be the actual question of we ignore the fact that ridley did not know his sons school teachers name but they change every year.Bed routine also changes with passing years so why should she be overreacting about the fact that he worked over time it was not like he was cheating on her or had another family.

description

This story has many missing peaces but Ridley was not completely correct also he was not there when his family need him he made his wife feel lonely and made her file a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage.

All tough with all the missing pieaces and book still made a fabulous peace of work with a strong women and a husband who actually cared about his marriage .
Profile Image for Catie.
70 reviews
December 21, 2016
Not gonna lie...the best part of reading this book was when my husband texted me after he saw the alert on his phone that I purchased and he asked if everything was ok. It appears the title may have alarmed him a little.
Great read and was the laugh I needed.
And my husband is awesome, but it is good to keep them on their toes. ;)
Profile Image for Abby A..
51 reviews56 followers
December 23, 2016
Being a cat lover and owner, the fact that two cats were violently killed in this book really pisses me off.

By the way, I also don't find any of the main characters very likable. Overall, a very disappointing book.
Profile Image for eclipsiis.
235 reviews38 followers
April 13, 2017
Oh my gosh, what the hell have I just read hahahahha

At first, I thought the H was a major asshole and by the end of the book I realised I was right! He's a cocky motherfucker for sure, and that's probably what's so charming about him. Besides being a cocky mofo, he's an incredibly loving person and loves his family very very much and actually tries to make up for his mistakes.

Now, ladies and mofos, I usually don't like my books with comedy. I like them with drama and even suspense, but it's very rare for me to connect with a romantic comedy kind of book. Sometimes because I don't think they're as funny as they try to be, and sometimes I'm the black sheep around my friends because I didn't like a book they loved. Something I do like, and very much, is male POV. I like to see what goes on the H's mind, not just to read him say "I love you", but to read his thoughts and get to know his personality. Another thing I like is books that feel like films. Books that when you read them, you can totally see the scene playing in your head, the characters, the weather, their voice and tone... I love it.

Bad Husband got me hooked from the first page. I laughed so hard and loved every page! I loved to see how he didn't hid his cockiness from us and embraced it. I loved how his kid is awkward but, if you pay attention, is just like him. And how Madison, by trying to fix the situation, screwed it up too. And how he fought for his family. I loved how in the end the tables turn and there's a fuckload of drama and it's raining, I LOVE WHEN IT RAINS ON A DRAMATIC SCENE! I'm a sucker for suffering, sorry not sorry.

Well deserved 5 stars, and, if you have a child that resembles Noah's personality, take them to the closes shrink, cause that kid is a fucking psycho.
Profile Image for Liyana.
72 reviews8 followers
February 20, 2017
Just wooww. i didnt expect that.. when some happend to their hea, i just expect myb one of them was cheating. it so so nice looking from the husband Pov, he tho they happy together but he doesnt realize that the wife feel so alone. how he doesnt know anything about her sons.. their routine.. all he know working then provide for their living, what he doesnt know his family need him. i dont blame the wife pull of trigger and get the husband to realize what his missing.. p/s: last book of the year 2016!! happy new year!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Mish.
204 reviews27 followers
September 2, 2024
“Stop.” She pushes back away from me, sliding further back in my truck bed. “Not right now.” “You’re saying no?” I raise an eyebrow, and she nods. “Should I remind you how good it is with me before you say no? Remind you of how good it always is between us?”

I know this doesn’t fix anything, and it’s just sex, but you can’t blame me for trying because when you think about it, before the whole Kip drama, sex got her at least talking to me. I don’t give her a chance to utter her denial.
.
.
.
.
YES THIS PASSAGE IS DIRECTLY COPIED FROM THE BOOK. HARD PASS.

I have disliked a lot of MMC, but this category? The narcissistic jerks who think their dicks are the best and behave like they have never made a mistake? Absolutely have a place in my hate list.

When Maddison gives Ridley divorce papers, his first thought is if this is gone girl and he should check their basement and credit card bills, and then his second thought is if his wife is leaving him for an athlete which he would accept if he is given first class tickets to all the games. After mentioning 500 times that he “provides” for his family and his wife works because she wants to, he goes on to talk about how the sex is good, how the sex is his most important thought because duh, men, and how he might get over the sex with his wife eventually if needed, only to just fuck her again and again for the feels, and because “I would stop if she really wants me to, I am not that guy, but I know she wants me” all in the middle of divorce proceddings.

Oh did I forget to mention how many times he repeated he married his wife because she got pregnant accidentally and he "had to". Yeah, that's there too.

I am so done with authors who think any part of this dynamic is “romantic” or forgivable because he said sorry and now will take efforts. I don't know why we can't write men having the basic fucking decency - especially in fiction because we have that opportunity here.

Some of the authors/readers need to completely introspect what “romance” means.

P.s - Coercion is also kinda SA btw .

One star for the apt title of the book and also how the title is also perfect for the quality of the book, though I would have given two if this book was called “Worst Husband” instead :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Jac K.
2,519 reviews490 followers
December 22, 2019
Ridley and Madison Cooper are having marital issues, and now Ridley is on a mission to save his marriage. The book is written from Ridley's POV, it is really funny, and quite an enjoyable read. I literally LOL the entire book...from dead cats, to smooth balls...it's a hoot. The audiobook is great too, narrated by Sean Cristen.
Profile Image for DG.
52 reviews
January 9, 2017
Really liked this...halfway through still was not sure if I would get my HEA...starting feeling anxiety as if someone was sitting on my chest several,times...really, really liked that Ridley loved his wife and really wanted his marriage to last...
Profile Image for Corina.
99 reviews
December 29, 2016
Do you see this girl, lying on her bed, looking pleased that this book is finally over?? Yeah that´s me!
Because I couldn´t read another phrase like this anymore! It was funny for the first five times, but after this it annoyed me to no end.

Ok, let's start with the points I liked:

- I totally could relate to this couple and their problems. Marriage IS hard work, especially when kids are involved and a house and a dog and work....and some other pets too....and when both are hard headed and annoying the shit out of each other....you know the whole package.
But it also makes you laugh and it´s never boring, it´s exciting and no day is like the other. I don´t want it any other way.

- I loved the kids. They were the stars of this book. They helped me through it and carried me the whole way.

- The H was ok...I guess.
- It was funny...sometimes.

Ok, here are the points, which get on my nerves:

- I couldn`t connect with Madison. I know the H loved her and she was beautiful - with great tits and ass - what he´d mentioned many many many times.
And she was a great mom, wife and wanted to have sex even in the middle of the night after a day with work and kids and cleaning the house and doing sports (of course)...ok which woman won´t spread her legs at two o´clock in the morning after all this, for her husband, who is never at home??

- Speaking of which...he is never at home? Just at night? For how many years? Two? Five? Yeah sure!

- I don´t liked the way she tried to get his attention.

- It was written in Ridley´s POV, which was interesting and different to many other books, but the guy loves to ramble. (Is rambler a word?) Geez, I can´t believe that men have so many thoughts.
And like I said in the beginning, after the 10th time of "Do you see the guy........that`s me!" it sucks!

So why 3 stars? It was funny sometimes and I could relate to it. I loved the kids and there was some truth in it...but it often was too much and I can´t help wishing it would be over already.
Profile Image for 2OCC Reviews.
3,487 reviews254 followers
December 29, 2016
I have read this authors books in the past and really enjoyed the humor that she adds into the story, so this was an auto read for me once I read the description. The best part is the main character are married, it it shows a different side of romance.

I really liked Ridley. He worked so hard for him family and while I understand that can take a lot away from Madison and the kids. I felt that he truly didn't understand what was wrong, he was a man after all.

Being a married woman I really got where Madison was coming from, it can be exhausting, but I wanted to see her fight more, or maybe some flashbacks in her POV of her trying. It was a lot to understand with out seeing things from her side.


I love how the Ridley talk to us as readers. He was amazing at it. I couldn't help but laughing right off the bat. He was this man faced with a divorce by his wife, who he truly loved deep down and he has to win her back. It was a wild funny ride that kept me pulled in and rooting for the hero!

I loved the secondary characters. Even the smallest ones really added to the story line and humor, from Ridleys business partner to the secretary at his off, they all played amazing parts! I would really love to see Brantley get his own story!

Overall this was an amazing read. I loved seeing an already married couple taking center stage in a book and showing the struggle that some couples face. I think that it will open a lot of people's eyes! 4.5 stars #2OCCJD
Profile Image for Tapasya.
366 reviews
June 25, 2020
This one was completely unexpected. I was sure that I'm gonna skip this book and mark it as dnf. I was turned off when I read that the heroine is a massage therapist for guys.!!!!!!! A big turn offfff (for me)
BUT....
I don't know why but the writing was very nice and then the story started to build up. And I loved hearing the hero's pov. And being married myself and reading a book on married life just hooked me. And let me tell you I was so so happy that I didn't abandoned this one. A very great book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Soma.
547 reviews70 followers
May 22, 2023
I like the author's writing style. It is so easy to become part of the conversation within the pages.
It started great. I really loved the idea of this book But after a while I got tired from this style and the hero came out like such a douche I had to agree with his wife.
I really wish we could have gotten into the wives point of view.
I did love how it was light hearted even for such a heavy subject and just how much he was willing to do for Madison though. This was his wake up call to see that he wasn't loving her the way she needed to be loved.
Profile Image for *di~.
814 reviews8 followers
July 14, 2021
can u tell i’m reading marriage in crisis books cause of ms lori 🥴
this was different as it was entirely in the H’s pov & there wasn’t any cheating in this one
it was more neglect & being married to the job but i didn’t like how the h manipulated the H with the threat of divorce 👀
overall i just want MDH to be released ASAP 😇
Profile Image for **Tessa** (semi hiatus).
425 reviews17 followers
Read
June 5, 2025
DNF

I couldn’t even get past the first chapter. The writing was so chaotic and all over the place. I think the author was trying to be funny but it fell flat and just made it so confusing. It didn’t even make sense. Seriously-I’m a smart woman but it was so jumbled it was too hard to follow. Lord help me. Nope. At least it’s another one off my list!

On to the next!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
97 reviews
February 13, 2018
Husband-immature and clueless


Wife-immature x3 and clueless x10



That's pretty much all there is to this book
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