Friday 10 February 2023

New Publication Spotlight: How to Keep a Husband for 10 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.



AMAZON UK           AMAZON US


A housing complex, a community of friends, and the burden of pretending to be something you are not. It's a dilemma for Lina, as she and her soon-to-be ex-husband, Brown act like the ever-loving couple everyone thinks they are. but ultimately, are they deceiving their friends or themselves?

Set in Jacksonville, Florida, the author makes the reader aware of the setting and culture of the area, as we become acquainted with the protagonists and the many secondary characters. The timeline jumped back and forth, from the past and present, delving into the relationships the characters have with the protagonists and how their reunion is taking shape. As Lina and Brown constantly try to fool their friends, the narrative is therefore littered with their mishaps, as they fake their togetherness, all in the name of a worthy cause.

Additionally, there's a strong sense of community spirit and how a group of people living in the same budget apartment building forged believable friendships. This aspect surprised me, as I expected to read a rom-com focusing mostly on Lina and Brown. Yes, there is a satisfying, happy ending despite the narrative not panning out how I expected.

Overall, I love the idea of this novel. The author has written a pleasant, enjoyable, and solid book. Yet somehow, it lacks a certain, je ne sais quoi for me.

***arc generously received courtesy of Bookouture via NetGalley***