How to Keep a Husband for Ten Days

by Jessica Hatch

Pretending to be married to the man you were married to… How hard can it be?!

When Lina’s oldest friends unexpectedly announce they’re coming to stay, she has to think fast. No one knows she and her husband Brown are breaking up, and so she persuades him to act as if they aren’t… After all, how hard can it be to pretend to be married for ten days?

Turns out, a lot harder than she thought. On day one, she strikes so many couple poses that she throws her back out. On day two, she gets muscle spasms from smiling too hard at her husband’s jokes. On day three, she almost has a heart attack when she puts her hand far too high up his thigh at the dinner table. And on day four, when she accidentally grazes Brown’s lips when aiming for his cheek, she almost passes out in the middle of the restaurant.

By day five, Lina is starting to realise there’s a thin line between love and hate. And while she can try to fool her friends, she can’t fool her heart. Was she too hasty calling time on her marriage? Is this more than make believe? And does she even have enough time to find out if Brown feels the same?

This absolutely hilarious and totally addictive romcom is perfect for fans of Ali Hazelwood’s The Love Hypothesis, Christina Lauren’s The Unhoneymooners, and Emily Henry.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Adult, Fiction, Contemporary Romance

293 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 8, 2023

About the author

Jessica Hatch writes hilarious, heartfelt romantic comedies for the girls who grew up rooting for the main character's best friend. Her first novel, My Big Fake Wedding, debuted at #1 in Humorous American Fiction, and her second novel, How to Keep a Husband for Ten Days, is widely anticipated by an international readership.

She loves to develop quirky, high-concept scenarios and then drop her characters into them, escape room–style, to see what happens next. Her work spotlights characters and locales the reader can fall in love with, and aims to explore real-world issues that women and nonbinary people face.

(She also enjoys loafing around, largely ignoring her characters and binge-watching Netflix instead.)

Say hello at www.JessicaHatch.com and/or stay in touch via www.LeftRight.Substack.com.

Reviews

[Heather Adores Books · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5⭐
Genre ~ pegged as a rom com, but I'm not too sure about that
Setting ~ NYC
Publication date ~ February 8, 2023
Publisher ~ Bookouture
Est Page Count ~ 266 (26 chapters +e)
POV ~single 3rd
Featuring ~ slow burn, forced proximity, miscommunication, second chance

Well, I checked an old one off the list, which I probably picked it up for the interesting title and cute cover, but unfortunately it really wasn’t for me.

Lina & Brown are in their late 20's and have been married for a couple of years, but they have grown apart and are in the midst of a divorce. In an effort to not upset their friends they pretend every thing is still hunky dory. He moves back in and they're all over each other like all is well. May I ask why? Also, maybe it's just me, but I found it weird they all came together to save a building.

So I suppose this is in the fake dating category somewhat, and while I don't mind that trope when it's either friends doing it, or characters that have never met, but this felt different perhaps because of the reason for lying. I know that fake means lying to an extent, but if you have a true friend in your life then why lie to them? Because you think you might lose their friendship? And in turn if they think they are a true friend why would they get upset about something that has nothing to do with them?? It's the couple's life to live and if they don't want to live it together anymore than that's their choice.

Lina was pretty unsufferable throughout. I didn't mind Brown really, but I can't really say much about him since we didn't get his point of view, which might have helped this book out a little. My heart hurt for him at one point.

Anyway, I'm not spoiling anything here, but obviously we know they are going to find their way back to each other, so I did like the second chance aspect for them, but the underlying plot to get there was just crazy to me. Both rom and com was just about nonexistent. Saving the building takes over the story and nothing gave me a chuckle.

I'll round up because I do think the author did an okay job of describing struggles in marriage, however I would hope most adults know that communication is key.

Cover gripe ~ does the man look to have have "a head of long, blond curls"? Does she look to have "long, dark hair'? Pet peeve of mine!

To my friends here named Carol, Jill or Susan, I hate to break it to you, but our FMC thinks you have “an old lady name and wear your hair in a no-nonsense, graying style that you pair with Teva sandals and drawstring linen slacks.”


Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ X

[Melany · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm a bit confused by the cover. It gave me RomCom vibes plus how it states "highly hilarious" when it had no humor to me. Not worth the read, sorry. I begrudgingly finished this book so I could finish my review, but I wouldn't recommend this to anyone I know.

I received this book from NetGalley and the publishers to read and review. All statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review coming soon.

[Travelogged Blogs · Rating 2 out of 5]

The blurb about this marriage in crisis romance was interesting and as I started reading the book, the sudden appearance of the side characters and the slow pace was leading me to get less and less interested. I'm going to start off by being very honest, I did not like the writing style because it wasn't very engaging and the dialogues between the characters (except Lina & Brown) felt superficial and unnatural. Though Brown's charcter wasn't very well described, I liked him more than Lina. Lina complicated things for herself and could not see where she was going wrong. What infuriated me the most was when she tried to put half the blame on Brown in front of their mutual friends when he was not at fault. And the flow of the plot was confusing too which is why I feel that if I had not read the blurb first, I would have had no idea about what was actually going on in the book half the time. The only part I liked was the very end where I could actually feel the chemistry and connection between Lina & Brown. Other than that, I wasn't very impressed with this book tbh.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review

[Susan in Perthshire · Rating 1 out of 5]

I must have been reading a different book because I found this utterly boring and frustrating. Where was the so-called humour? I felt cheated by the blurb which promised ‘a hilarious and heart-warming romantic comedy.’ No it was neither hilarious, nor heart-warming.

The plot wasn’t particularly exciting and sadly, the main characters Lina and Brown were under-written. I found them unreal and unappealing, The other characters seemed to get more page time than they did.

I found the writing style really clumsy. The prose didn’t flow at all and I kept having to go back and read a paragraph to figure out what was happening. I think some judicious editing might have helped. There was a lot of padding!

I understand the pronoun business is important to some people in real life, but in this book, it was done incredibly clumsily. The constant use of “they/their” when referring to Freddie, continually threw me out of the story as I had to go back and check who was being written about. I really don’t know how a writer can combine the desire to respect cultural norms and avoid offending people, whilst telling a story but I simply found the whole things confusing and frustrating.

I ended up skimming chunks of this book because I just didn’t care. Such a shame and I hate to be so critical when I know the author will have put a lot of work into this book.. this book was just not my cup of tea.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

[inês · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 25%

You know when you're shuffling through channels on the TV, watch a couple of mismatched scenes here and there, but never really get to know what the shows you find are about? That is exactly the pacing of this book.

Author barely sets the scenes, they're hazy and confusing in the way some dreams can be. They change abruptly yet are slow paced most of the time, and the writing didn't do it any favours either.

Writing was... clunky. Adverbs are used often but believe it or not, that wasn't what irked me. It's how it felt detached, unnecessarily vain. It doesn't help making a reader care for the people when there is barely any emotion in the narration. Scenes like the one at the escape room were building up a bit of tension between the two main characters and the friend group... but are discarded so quickly. Why? It's like the sparks between them can't become a fire because the author is on a rush. Slow down, let us readers actually understand what is going on and savour the emotions that are clashing together.

Characters were promising, and so was the synopsis, hence why I'm giving it 1 star at least. The idea was definitely lovely, second chance romances and forced proximity are some of my favourites, but this one... I think it needs a lot of touch ups to be something worth comparing to most romances, especially ones that call themselves hilarious. I feel a bit sad, but oh well.

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in advance.

[Elísa Sif Rannveigardóttir · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review.

The title of this book made it sound incredibly interesting, and the blurb makes it seem like the perfect inside-out version of 'How to lose a guy in ten days.' Unfortunately, however, this book just isn't nearly as good as it seems.

The book is made out to be "super funny, just simply hilarious romcom," but there is absolutely no humor in this book. It's just not funny. It's also supposed to be heartwarming, but there was no moment that made my heart swell or even beat a little harder. The book isn't even cute.

The plot feels underdeveloped, but Lina and Brown felt like they were still in the idea phase of writing. The idea is amazing. I personally LOVE fake-dating and especially fake-dating when they're already close (best friends, exes... etc.), but they are in the middle of their divorce, and Lina still dislikes him very much. There are a couple of storylines going at the same time, which didn't really do anything for the bigger-picture plot.

All of my thoughts and ideas are my own. Again, thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

[Jennifer Sellers]

DNF :(

I went into this expecting a light hearted, funny, romantic comedy. I don’t feel like I got any of that. Ended up not finishing at 30%. Wasn’t a big fan of the narration or the authors writing style.

I can’t personally recommend, but doesn’t mean that someone won’t really love it.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions expressed above are completely my own.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book highlights the fact that marriage isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. The butterfly feelings that you had while dating, on your wedding day, and through the honeymoon period do not last. Real life sets in. Both husband and wife may work, maybe he leaves socks all over, or maybe she leaves hair on the bathroom floor. What was once adoring is now annoying. While these are not the exact scenarios between Lina and Brown, it is somewhat like this. I enjoyed reading about Lina because I saw a lot of myself in her. I was quick to say things like, “this isn’t working” until I realized that things do change. It was nice to see Lina realize that maybe she was too quick to act. Also, already knowing that these two did have a connection, and reading about how they got married, made the scenes and feelings between the two very realistic.


One issue that I had with the book is that I felt like there was too much focus around the reason Lina and Brown were having to fake their marriage – keeping their old building. I wish there was less focus on that and more focus on the relationship and the friendships. It almost felt like that was the main point of the book rather than the fake relationship. The other issue that I had is that the book is self-described as being funny and I didn’t actually find it funny.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

Think Oscar Madison and Felix Unger, from the Odd Couple, only not funny.

The description of this book made it sound as though this would be a ron-com, but it was not.

I hated at least half of this book. The MC was selfish and petty, and her soon-to-be ex was nice, but clueless. The non-binary character was probably the most interesting person in the bunch.

The basic premise was that they had to remain together to fight to keep their old building from being torn down for condos. That was the plot that brought them together, after Lina changed the locks when Brown didn't come home right away after they fought. Changed the fricking locks, after one day. Lina also counted how many times in a row he did not make the bed. Fifty-nine in case you are interested.

Unlovable Main characters. Slogging plot. I hated going back into the book every evening, if nothing else so I could get it done.

I highly do *not* recommend this book, unless, somehow, you too are obsessive compulsive, and everything has to be exactly right, all the time, and you *gasp* sympathize with Lina, and would count how many times the bed wasn't made, as well.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

[Lindsey Domokur · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I saw the name and the premise of the book I was all in! I really wanted to love it, and it had so much potential. There were a lot of things I did love, like Brown and how you could see how much he still wanted to be with his wife. He was confused and he was sad and he was hopeful that they could reconcile. Lina was a different story for me. She was all over the place. We could see how much she did love him, but we also could see just how she was running away from her feelings and communication.
I liked the premise of the story, where they are still pretending to be married, because I really felt like that could bring them back together. I think the story line went off the rails a few times, but I did enjoy the times that the couple were together.
Lina's inner dialogue had me shaking me head a few times because there were things she was thinking of saying and never did and I wanted to scream at her to just SAY IT. The lack of communication is real life though. It is easier to cut and run sometimes than have hard conversations and that is just sad. I loved the love story, but the rest was a bit on the meh side.

[Reading in Brussels]

The blurb had me curious - it sounds roughly like Emily Henry's Happy Place, and given that I read an ARC of that one and absolutely adored it, I thought I'd give How To Keep a Husband for Ten Days a try.
Unfortunately this one didn't work for me. I had a hard time keeping focused as I felt that it was overly descriptive in the beginning, and that it lacked the angst that a second-chance romance would have. This is a dnf for me.
Thanks to the publisher and author for the ARC via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

[Desiree Reads · Rating 1 out of 5]

Pronoun gender confusion strikes on page 5.
Exit time

[Saloni Porwal · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book seemed to drag having too many subplots. The whole petition to save the building was not something I had signed up for and took about as much screentime as the main plot. There were far too many characters for my comfort speaking of which, I have got used to Freddie's sexuality and the pronouns them/their which really confused me.

The cover and blurb are very misleading, making the reader expect something but providing something completely different. So, just putting it out there, this is not a light rom-com which is oh so bright and colorful.

I am glad this book had a HEA ending, and I loved the storyline of Brown & Lina rediscovering each other. I didn't feel like putting down the book at any point in the story, and the journey was captivating. I loved the chemistry and banter between Brown and Lina and rooted for more of it. As much as I want to have more good things to say, this is all I can think of.

I received an e-ARC of this book from NetGalley and Bookouture in exchange for my honest opinion.

Blog

[Lindsay · Rating 1 out of 5]

The cover promised a "totally hilarious and heart-warming" read, but I got the opposite feelings with this book.

I found the characters to be insufferable. Lina is a sappy, perfectionist that makes huge decisions at the drop of a hat and is then upset when her husband isn't on the same page as her. As for said husband, I feel as if I don't know him well enough to from a proper opinion. Readers don't actually meet present day Brown until the 5th chapter. He--like his wife--is a poor communicator, but he seems the most like a realistic person out of the entire cast. As for the friends, the only thing I'll say is that part of the reason Lina is afraid to admit the impending divorce to them is because of how "highly opinionated" they are. Extrapolate from that what you will.

The plot focuses more on saving the apartment building than the romance. Worst of all, it isn't even a particularly compelling plot line. Lina and Brown's reconciliation felt so surface level. There needed to be more of a focus on the past and present of the couple for me to believe in their love. The side characters intrude too much into the story as well. Freddie and Mara make a bigger impact than Brown. I wouldn't be surprised to find they had more lines than him.

I have issues with the author's writing too. The first page (at least in my digital ARC) introduces the entirety of the main cast and it took me a bit to keep them all straight. The dialouge is so awkward. The characters don't sound like they could be real people. The story isn't even funny. I was promised humor and I don't think I even smiled while reading this.

Clearly, this is not the book for me. To each their own though.

I received an ARC of this book through Netgalley in exchange for a review.

[Lauryn_alexus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest review!

This story follows Lina and Brown in their attempts to hide their impending divorce from their friends and fall in love again in the process.

I will start by saying I love a second-chance romance involving currently married or divorced couples because it involves real emotions and situations where love requires work. Lina and Brown's story was pretty simple and surface-level as far as marital issues go, but that is realistic, not all relationships have serious concerns that lead to divorce. This did leave me feeling a little disconnected from their characters because the events and emotions they were going through were not complex, there was nothing to relate to. I did like that they went back in time throughout their relationship, you got a glimpse into how they evolved and you got hints of little disappointments which led to the decision to divorce. I do wish they went a little deeper into those small moments which left a lasting effect on Lina and Brown's relationship which I believe would create a deeper connection with the reader.

One issue I had with the book was the pace. The story felt like it was going through all of these different storylines and it did not sit in one spot for very long. This also contributed to my lack of connection with the book or characters, because I did not get enough substance to relate to. My other issue with the book is how unresolved one of the issues with a member of their friend group was. They briefly mentioned an incident towards the end of the book with their friend Sophie and it brought on feelings of betrayal from everyone, but it was never talked about further or resolved in the end. This may be due to another book coming out at a later date that revolves around Sophie or another character but it left me feeling a little disappointed.

Altogether, this book was a nice, feel-good love story which I would recommend if you wanted an easy read with a happy ending.

[Anni · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cover’s tagline states “A totally hilarious and heartwarming romantic comedy,” so the reader comes into this heartbreak of a downer, marriage in crisis, drama-filled tome, not properly knowing what to expect.

First-off, I really dislike the marriage in crisis trope, so thinking I’m picking up a fun-loving rom-com about a quicky wedding where a couple needs to stay married (for whatever reason), for 10 days only… sorely not the right book - though that is the premise of another book coming out right away and I requested them both (either married or roommates and studied by a therapist or psychologist, or something like that, for 10 or 30 days, or something that sounded really similar).

Second, the secondary characters in this book stole the show, like Freddie. They were much more interesting and I would really like their story. The side-plot of saving the building the five friends lived in (and Freddie managed)… held little interest, and going on and on (and on and on and on and on) about the progressive dinner parties they all once had, once upon a pre-covid time… everyone grows up and moves on and loses touch. That’s life. Harping on it as a storyline? Too much. The one influencer friend? Awful. To force a divorcing couple to pretend to still be together because a former (out of touch) friend is coming into town? No thanks.

I had a slow time getting through this one (much like My Big Fake Wedding, though comparing the two now, I liked that one a lot more), so I could recommend it only to those who really love the marriage in crisis trope… otherwise, it’s probably a tough read. I give it 3.5-stars, rounded to 4 only because I managed to work my way through and I really liked Freddie’s character.

I received an advance review copy from NetGalley and Bookouture, and this is my honest feedback.

[Rolé - Hooked By That Book · Rating 2 out of 5]

The reality of the story doesn’t live up to the lively description of the book.

Lina and Brown are on the verge of a divorce. They are reluctant to tell their friends and pretend that everything is still a-okay when Lina’s best friend, Mara, comes for an unexpected visit. The visit and the pretense get extended when the group of friends embark on a quest to save a building from being developed into luxury apartments.

The author gave a realistic representation of how easy it is to get stuck in your head and how difficult it is to break that cycle of negative thinking. It’s also a good reflection on how no relationship is easy.

We only see the story from Lina’s point of view. It was difficult to know what Brown’s thoughts were. There could’ve been more interactions between Lina and Brown and most of their conversations were confrontational. Between the urgency of saving the building and living in Lina’s head the entire time, there was no relief. This isn’t a romcom, sorry. The blurb is the funniest thing about this book. I’m not going to lie, I lost any sympathy I had for Lina towards the end. I just wanted her to make a decision. It is possible to think something to death. And while I’m glad that everything worked out for them, by that point I didn’t really care anymore.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Keila (speedreadstagram) · Rating 3 out of 5]

What’s your favorite romcom or what are you reading now?

I love romcoms – they are right after thrillers in my preferred genres. So I am always on the lookout for a laugh out loud one. This one said that it was “absolutely hilarious and totally addictive” so I had to give it a shot.

None of Liana’s and Brown’s friends know they’re divorcing after being married for two years. When they unexpectedly come to visit, Liana and Brown decide to pretend to be married while they’re there. No problem, right? Well, things don’t go as planned and by the middle of the trip Liana starts to wonder if she’s been fooling her heart and she’s really in love with Brown still. With the divorce papers already filled, will Liana figure it out before its too late and she loses Brown for good? Or will she get the guts to confess she still has feelings?

Okay, this one was cute, but I did not laugh out loud which was disappointing. The premise is really cute and brought up some interesting points. I did reflect back on whether or not forced proximity would have helped with either of my previous divorces (spoiler it wouldn’t have lol). I think part of my problem was I didn’t really like either main character. I did enjoy the current and past timeline in the book. This was not a bad book, but it wasn’t a great book, pretty middle of the road read for me. I think I maybe got my hopes up and was just disappointed.

This book is heavy on the miscommunication trope. If that’s for you then check this one out Feb 8th!

Thank you to the publisher, Bookouture, @bookouture, Netgalley, @netgalley, and the author for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Ellie]

DNF.
In fact, I barely started. And this writer goes on my "avoid" list forthwith. I have a visceral feeling of revulsion anytime I encounter anything with even a hint of woke-ism. This book fairly reeks of it. Not that I owe an explanation for my feelings on the matter, I still find it important to state that I am fully supportive of the lgbtq communities. I have members of those communities in my immediate family and in my workplace as well.

What I don't support is the recent addition of a third gender. There is no third gender. Regardless of how one identifies, one is born with genitalia that comes in one of two types - male or female. If a person chooses in their lifetime to swap one type for another because they require gender reassignment, then by all means, go for it. There will still only be TWO genders. Two different sets of sexual organs, two different hormone profiles.
There isn't a third, and referring to someone as "they" isn't going to magic another gender into reality.

There's been a lot of stupid shit that has come along the past few decades. Thankfully a lot of it also pissed right back off again. But the pronoun rubbish sits near the top of that heap of stupid, right alongside the ever-growing list of words and terms that are now considered unacceptable to use.

Point being, I will not read anything from a writer who doesn't specify 'he' or 'she' when describing a character. Using 'they' is nonsense. End of.

[KKEC Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

How to Keep a Husband for 10 Days by Jessica Hatch

Published: February 8, 2023
Bookouture
Pages: 293
Genre: Romantic Comedy
KKECReads Rating: 4/5
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.

Jessica Hatch writes hilarious, heartfelt romantic comedies for the girls who grew up rooting for the main character's best friend.
She loves to develop quirky, high-concept scenarios and then drop her characters into them, escape room–style, to see what happens next. Her work spotlights characters and locales the reader can fall in love with and aims to explore real-world issues that women and nonbinary people face. (She also enjoys loafing around, largely ignoring her characters and binge-watching Netflix instead.)

“Not if she didn’t let them slip away.”

Lina had a charmed life. She met her husband and best friends while they all lived in the same building. When Lina and Brown moved out, everyone was afraid things would change. They were all naive. Now, Lina and Brown have to figure out how to keep their secret while trying to save their old building.

I enjoyed the themes of this book and that it focused on a real problem. I loved seeing people fight for housing and creating affordable housing. That was beautifully done.

The characters were all dynamic, diverse, and well-constructed. I didn’t care for the lead character, Lina, very much. But I loved Freddie, Mara, and Brown.

The relationships all felt authentic, and the things this group went through were struggles real people have. I enjoyed the dynamic and connection between these characters, and the balance between their personalities was outstanding.

There was a lot of heart in this novel, and I appreciated that. I would love to see Freddie get a book; this character has a lot of personality, sass, heart, and a story to tell!

[Elaine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm sorry this wasn't what I was expecting or hoping for at all. The cover and blurb give the "rom-com" vibe but it doesn't deliever on that promise. Also the style of writing didn't convince me and the pace was really slow. The plot wasn’t very exciting and sadly I couldn't connect with the main characters Lina and Brown. I found them unreal and unappealing. The side characters were interesting though, and so was the synopsis that's why I'm giving it 2 stars. The idea was definitely lovely, second chance romances and forced proximity are some of my favourites but it just didn't work as well as I hoped for. I'm sure this is "it's not you, it's me" situation and others will enjoy this book more than I did. Maybe if I've gone into it blind, without reading the synopsis I'd enjoy it better because there wouldn't be any expectations on my part. Oh well, I'm sad to say this book was just not my cup of tea.

***I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

[Bookworm · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story kept my interest, mostly. At the end, though… I really didn’t feel like either one had changed, and the reconnection didn’t really feel deserved. It just needed more. That being said, it also needed less, as I found myself skimming chunks of it.

In all sincerity, Lina had such huge problems with Brown’s cleaning, or lack of, to the point that it was driving her to shut him out. Why didn’t they just hire a cleaning person? It would be $75ish a clean for their house (I live close… we have a cleaner…) and is far cheaper than the dozen emergency therapy appointments she scheduled to talk about it. She’s the breadwinner. She’s making good money from the sound of it. I realize that’s not an interesting book, but Lina is so analytical and down to earth that it just makes no sense that she didn’t think of that. So this was a weird area of suspended disbelief for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC.

[Sara]

I love a second-chance romance, especially a marriage in crisis, so I was excited to pick up this book. Fans of marriage in crisis books such as "You Deserve Each Other" and a flipped "How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days" will like this book. This book wasn't a win for me, since this was not a light-hearted, funny, rom com. Instead, the book felt heavy yet underdeveloped and left many issues unresolved.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture, and author, Jessica Hatch for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review. How to Keep a Husband for Ten Days comes out on February 8, 2023!

[Raymie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super quick read at under 300 pages.

Lena and Brown are getting divorced but they have not told anyone. Now that her friend is in town she needs her soon to be ExHusband to play along and act like they are still married.

I fee like the title of the book. Brown and her pretending to be married took back burner to the plot of saving her old apartment building. I didn’t feel like it start focusing on that until 80% or the book.

Was it still a good book? Yes. Is it a spicy? No. It still has a cute plot and love story between her and brown since it bounces back between present and 2020.

I also got married during the pandemic so I loved the pandemic wedding. ♥️

[Nicola “Shortbookthyme” · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wonderful, light hilarious romantic drama to brighten up my day.
Finding out if you were just a bit too hasty in giving up on your marriage is the theme of How to keep a Husband for Ten Days.
Can love be found again? The main characters, Lina and Brown, have a lot to work out as they pretend to still be married to their friends.
You will need to pick this book up to see how things play out.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own

[Caroline O'Sullivan · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I read the synopsis of this book I thought, this is a book for me. I love the fake dating trope and thought that faking being in love with your own husband would be great.

Sadly this book fell in so many ways for me, I didn’t find it funny in the slightest and I found the friendships forced in some ways. I felt zero connection to any of the characters and felt that they had zero connection with each other.

I really wanted to love this book but unfortunately it just made me feel bleh!

Thank you so much to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy of this book, all thoughts are my own.

[Charmaine Healy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book so so much.

It was one of those books that I couldn’t wait to get a bit of free time to read it. It’s a second chance romance but it’s extremely realistic which I loved. Brown and Lina are separated heading for divorce but have to spend 10 days pretending to their friends that they’re still together. It forces them to deal with their problems head on and makes them both realise that they still love each other.

I adored the banter these two had with each other and the friendship they had with Freddie and Mara. It was the perfect take on found family.

It was a heart-warming, emotional and at times gut wrenching read that had me gripped from page one. It reminded me very much of Emily Henry’s writing so if you love her books then give this a read.

💕found family
💕second chance romance
💕divorce
💕housing crisis
💕inclusive

Will definitely be reading more of Jessica’s work 🥰

[Krista (Mrs K Book Reviews) · Rating 3 out of 5]

So this was a well written, feel good, second chance at love, romance book that I mostly enjoyed. I recommend to anyone who enjoy second chance love stories

[Kalee Rushing · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartfelt and hilarious. I couldn’t recommend this book enough!!