Ten Years

One of my favorite tropes, enemies-to-lovers, executed so tastefully done. TEN YEARS had me hooked and invested with these characters and storyline from the very first page up to the very end. Perfect amount of angst, tension, and believability which are the most important elements I crave in an emotional romance. There were moments where I laughed out loud and some where my heart ached. I so enjoyed the characters' depth and their connection and relationship together.

What forces them to be in contact with one another is the death of their beloved Ally, Becca's best friend and Charlie's partner and completely Ally's bucket list as a tribute to her.

At times I wanted to grab Becca and Charlie's shoulders and talk some sense in to them. Thank goodness it took no more than ten years for them to see what is clearly in front of one another (as I wouldn't haven't been able to hold out much longer knowing they could go one more second apart from each other).

I hope this author never stops writing!!

Thank you to Harper 360 and NetGalley for the digital arc in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Enemies to lovers. Love the storyline. Charming. Thank you net galley. Publishers for allowing me to read I really love this book.

Pernille Hughes’ Ten Years is a delightful romantic comedy that explores the complex relationship between two best friends, Becca and Charlie, who are perfect for each other but have yet to realize it. The novel follows the two characters as they navigate their lives over the course of a decade, from university to adulthood, through joy, grief, and everything in between.

The story is filled with witty banter and hilarious situations that will leave you chuckling and rooting for the two protagonists. The chemistry between Becca and Charlie is undeniable, and their constant bickering only adds to their undeniable attraction. The supporting characters are also well fleshed out and add depth to the story.

What sets Ten Years apart from other romantic comedies is its exploration of grief and loss. The death of Ally, their shared best friend, is a constant presence throughout the book, and the characters' struggles to come to terms with their loss are touching and relatable.

However, the book's pacing can feel a little uneven at times, and some of the conflicts and resolutions may feel a bit contrived. Additionally, the ending may not satisfy some readers who prefer a more definitive conclusion.

Overall, Ten Years is a charming and enjoyable read that will leave you with a warm, fuzzy feeling. It's perfect for fans of rom-coms and anyone looking for a lighthearted but heartfelt story about friendship, love, and loss. I give it 3.75 out of 5 stars.

Nothing but amazing things to say about this book. I have to admit, I cried so much. It was such a heartwrenching story but also so incredibly well written. I will admit at first I was a little bit unsure about the idea that the dead woman's fiance would date her best friend but it turned out to be just amazing. There was nothing left to question, no plot holes, just an amazingly well-written novel.

Thanks so much Harper 360 and NetGalley for an advance read in exchange for this review.

Becca and Charlie have known each other since college. They've also hated each other since college. They are connected through Ally - Charlie's fiancee and Becca's best friend forever. Ally dies, and the two have to connect each year to do an item for Ally's bucket list.

There are lessons here in love, loss, and grief. This book is told from Becca and Charlie's POVs. They are only connected through Ally and some other mutual friends. They don't like each other. I thought the timing of the book was a little off as it jumped to various points over a ten year time span. There were certain years where I wished I could've read more before it went to the next. The one thing that bothered me was that I felt like I didn't know Becca or Charlie. It was hard to root for them to be together. The last few chapters of the book were great and gave glimpses into things that were going on in both of their lives, but I wanted more of that. It's not a bad story, and there's plenty of moments where you will be frustrated by them. You'll also be cheering. 3 1/2

This book was funny and heart felt. Books on grief are alway a journey. This book was reminiscent of One Day, but more realistically done. It’s hard to believe that two people will see each other the same day every year, but in the case of Ten Years, these two people are brought together by a shared loss and meet to fulfill the wishes of a loved one. These characters had real flaws and at times were truly frustrating but that was part of their charm. The separate journeys and self revelations were all very real and well written. These characters changed over time and morphed into different and better versions of themselves. They felt lived in and fully realized by the ending. The ending itself was less satisfying than I’d have liked and I wish I’d see more of a conclusion. Valarie’s part in the whole plot was lessened with the ending and felt like a cheap last minute change on the part of the author. I’d recommend this book to those who want a heartfelt journey of self-discovery after loss with a side of romance.

What I appreciated about this book is that it was full of mess - in a good way. Becca and Charlie have a shared connection with Ally - Becca is her best friend, and Charlie is her fiancé. They share Ally, but they hate one another. Then, Ally dies. She leaves behind a bucket list of things she always wanted to do, and she asks Becca and Charlie to complete the list together. They decide to meet annually to take on Ally's list. Along the way, they explore why their relationship is the way it is which comes with all the ups and downs. This is an exploration of grief, of friendship, of love, and just the complicated stuff that we navigate in life. I liked that even though I had a hunch how this would end, there were so many twists and turns (as there are often are in life) before the story got there. Thanks to NetGalley for the early look at this August 2023 release!

This was an interesting read. I really enjoyed the premise. I loved the backstory of Becca, Charlie, and Alley and how they came to know each other.

I wasn't expecting the reveal of Becca and Charlie's past and how it really colored their relationship even before Alley was in the picture. That threw me for a loop, not going to lie, but it also helped me understand Becca and her hangups a lot more. I understood why she felt the way she did regarding her friendship with Ally and her tenuous and strained one with Charlie over the years.

I also loved how the interweaving story of their adventures fulfilling the bucket list together. Despite how much they mixed like oil and water Charlie and Becca actually did complement each other.

I think my favorite part of this novel, though, is that they are 100% honest with each other and they pull no punches when they verbally spar. Becca is a bit rough around the edges but her insight into Charlie's need to move on, no matter the cost, was spot on, but Charlie's insight into her life and the way she viewed herself in relation to Ally was also spot on. They really truly saw each other for who they were and despite how uncomfortable they felt about that, they still kept being drawn back together.

I honestly loved this novel. It's not an easy read. It's not all that fun, but it's raw and real and very angsty and dramatic and I'm here for it.

If you like enemies to lovers, second chance romancesish, opposites attract, and two grumpy characters you'll love this book.

This book is a bit of a tearjerker. Or at least I cried. But the crying felt good, I love a therapeutic cry. After losing Ally, Becca’s best friend and Charlie’s fiancé, Becca and Charlie are asked to complete Ally’s bucket list over the span of multiple years.

This to me was a true enemies to lovers story. Becca and Charlie truly dislike each other in the beginning. They’re both grieving and handle it in different ways. Each task and year changes them, leading to an ending on Ally say coming.

I really did love this book. I loved Becca and Charlie’s journey and when I’m yelling at the characters hoping they can hear me from the pages I know the story will stay with me.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper 360 for the ARC.

I loved this book! It was heart wrenching at times and other made me laugh out loud. This book was so wonderful.
I just reviewed Ten Years by Pernille Hughes. #TenYears #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

Thank you so much for the ARC. This book was so emotional for me. Ally passes away and her best friend and her fiancé complete her bucket list for her. Cue the tears. It was such a sweet read and I enjoyed every minute of it.

What an interesting read! I loved jumping being Points of View and I loved the overall vibe of the book. I did feel like they focused a lot on the first five-7 years and the last few were just rushed through. Which makes sense but also felt rushed.

Overall a great read and a perfect book for your pool bag

This book broke my heart on the first page. It's a sad but interesting premise of how you perceive the world.. Charlie was oftentimes a bit arrogant, but quite charming with a touch of being lost. Becca had such a tough exterior that she was often a bit much to endure. However, when you thought about her life and how she came to view it, her character made perfect sense.

As these two force themselves to honor Ally with their tasks over the course of 10 years, they are forced into a deeper introspection with several missteps along the way. But isn't that the journey of life; moving forward and looking deep inside to see who you are to better understand the world around you?

I think the only issue I found with the book is that it is written in British vernacular. There were times when I was lost at a reference or implication. However, it wasn't enough to deter reading it.

This is a beautifully complicated tale of self-discovery and love. Worth the read.

This book had such an interesting premise. I found myself flying through this book because I just had to know more.

Funeral of Ally fiancé to Charlie Lester & best friend of Becca White. Ally was the glue that kept Charlie & Becca together (barely). Becca and Charlie are mortal enemies and only “played” nice for the sake of the one they love, Ally.

You will need to get acquainted with the slang… took me longer to read because of this.

This was a sad story. The premise of the fiancé and the best friend completing her bucket list, after her death, was a fun way to do an enemy to lovers trope. You can feel the love they both had for Ally. I couldn’t stand Becca throughout the years and eventually fell in love with her growth.

You really got to know who Ally was as a fiancé, daughter & friend. She truly left her mark in their world. I also loved their friend group and how through the years they continued to show up for one another.

Though a sad premise this book was funny and thought provoking. ( thinking of creating my own bucket list)

Thank you NetGalley, Harper Collins UK for giving me this ARC. #NetGalley #TenYears #PernilleHughes

Ten Years by Pernille Hughes is enemies to lovers done right you can see the progression for these characters and it makes sense. I really liked the dual POV of the characters seeing how they both were grieving and the ways they handled it. This was a well told and written story they dealt with grief and losing a loved one in such a lovely way. I want to thank NetGalley and Harper 360 for the digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

I received a copy of Ten Years via NetGalley to read and review.

Ten Years hit me hard emotionally. I lost a very good friend to cancer in 2014.

I was able to relate to the characters with their grief but none of the bucket list items. I finished Ten Years in a day. Even though I felt sad reading a lot of it I looked forward to Charlie and Becca doing the bucket list items which always had good humor to it.

I really loved this book. I enjoy ones that take place over an extended period of time with the main characters interacting sparingly, and this delivered on that nicely. Becca and Charlie had one thing in common: their love for Ally, their best friend and fiancée respectively. Sadly, Ally passes away from cancer and throws their lives into a tailspin. Luckily, Ally thought of a solution before she died: having them scatter her ashes in a sort of bucket list for the two to complete over a series of years. It all unfolds from there.

Thanks as always to NetGalley for the ARC.

Enemies-to-lovers is a delicate balance: If the characters are too convincing as enemies, readers might not buy it when they become lovers. In [book:Ten Years], [author:Pernille Hughes] threads the needle of writing two characters that seem to really, truly loathe one another, but then gives them the time and space, and emotional opportunities, to change.

Becca was Ally’s best friend. Charlie was Ally’s fiancé. Becca and Charlie can’t stand each other. But after Ally dies, her instructions from beyond the grave force them to work together to honor her final wishes. And soon (but not <i>that</i> soon) Becca and Charlie find that maybe they’re looking forward to seeing one another to carry out these tasks.

This book sets up a lot of potential pitfalls for itself, and your mileage may vary on whether you think the author manages to avoid them. Someone elsewhere said this romance relationship can sometimes feel like a throuple – who are Becca and Charlie to each other without Ally? Does it matter? What about the “girl code” – is it ever acceptable to date your dead best friend’s former fiancé? Becca’s version of grieving is to lean into it, to wallow in the pain, to press on the bruise. Charlie wants to find a way to move on, to get past the pain and feel like himself again. Once they realize there are feelings between them, that fundamental, philosophical difference on what they owe to the dead sets up the deeper conflict in the second half of the story.

This is not a happy book, though it does have some funny moments. Becca and Charlie get into some hilarious situations while completing Ally’s “tasks.” They can be absolutely vicious to one another, but they find they can be honest without one another in ways they never have been with other partners. The author can write a heck a fight scene. When the anger burns away, we’re left with something real.

<i>CW: Death of a partner/best friend/child from cancer, infidelity (not involving the MC’s relationship), parental abandonment.</i>

[book:Ten Years] by [author:Pernille Hughes]
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
🌶️ 🌶️ The door closes after the heavy petting
⚱️⛺️⛰️🚴‍♀️🪂 Some excellent bucket list items
🪙 Charlie really should have called his company Tosser Productions
🎂 Becca’s rendition of happy birthday to herself is a riot
⛳️🧓🏻Ally’s mom’s relationship with Becca and Charlie is lovely (especially because neither gets along with their own mothers)

<i>Thanks to NetGalley and One More Chapter/HarperCollins for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.</i>

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper360 for this digital ARC in exchange for a honest review. Ten Years by Pernille Hughes is an enemies to lovers type story. This tends to be one of my favorite tropes if done correctly. This was a well told story showing how two people deal with their grief of losing a loved one and how it brings them together. I also love dual POVs in a book so I can truly see how each person is feeling.

Gosh…hard to put words into this review. I definitely have a book hangover. TEN YEARS ripped my heart out in the best way. Asking deep questions and offering lots of angst, it was the perfect read.

Charlie and Becca are perfect for each other. They just don’t know it. When Charlie’s fiancé and Becca’s best friend Allie passes away, these two mortal enemies are devastated. When they are given tasks to scatter Allie’s ashes and complete her bucket list together, it takes them on adventures that bring out the best and worst of them. I loved watching how these characters grew and developed and came to their realizations of both their own lives and their feelings.

Loved this story! If you're a fan of PS I love you, this take will warm your heart. An excellent read.

When I read the premise of this book, I had to have it immediately! I love a good enemies to lovers story and bucket lists are definitely my favorite. This story was so much deeper than the typical love story though! There is a relatable exploration of grief, especially from the male perspective, that was beautifully done. I also love strong character development and Becca’s growth was so fun to be a part of. This is definitely for you if you love banter, a solid glow up story, and characters that end up feeling like friends! This is my first Pernille Hughs book and I look forward to reading more of her backlist!

Thank you @netgalley and @harpercollins360 for the early copy!

3.85 stars!

This one comes out 8/15!

Loved this book! Charlie and Becca’s growth and character development over the decade was a beautiful way to depict grief in different stages. I would highly recommend. 4.5 stars rounded to 5.

A satisfyingly emotional journey. I was skeptical upon the opening chapter of the book, which brought together Becca and Charlie at the funeral of Ally, her best friend and his fiancée, and set these two who deeply loathe each other off on a mission to complete one task a year from her bucket list together. As expected, there is initially a lot of friction and unpleasantness between them, yet both experience notable character growth as the years progress, and so much is revealed about their past and changing feelings toward each other as they continue to cross paths. There is a revelation late in the book that reframes the preceding events in a completely new way and I could understand both Becca's and Charlie's differing thoughts about it, coming down more on Becca's side given the information within the final chapter. But ultimately, this development only serves to add some third act angst and doesn't take anything away from the rewarding and tender romance that blossoms here.

TEN YEARS – Pernille Hughes
One More Chapter
ISBN: 978-0008478421
August 15, 2023
Contemporary Fiction

London, England

Becca and Charlie have known each other since they attended university. Becca’s best friend, Ally, fell in love with Charlie. But despite the connection, Becca and Charlie didn’t really get along. However, they were there while Ally battled cancer until she finally died in 2011. TEN YEARS covers the day of Ally’s funeral and through each year up to 2020. Unbeknownst to them, Ally left behind a mission for Charlie and Becca to do together.

A year after Ally’s death, Becca receives an email from…Ally. Thinking Charlie was pranking her, she looks up his phone number and angrily contacts him. Turns out he got the same email. They decided that Ally had scheduled emails for the future and in them were requests that only the two people she cared for could fulfill. Becca and Charlie hate each other, so how can they stand to be around each other now? But for Ally’s sake, they will tolerate the other. They contact Ally’s mother Valerie, who gives them a little bottle with some of Ally’s ashes. The email had instructed that they would go to this particular place and spread the ashes from the little bottle. Amazingly enough, despite their dislike of each other, Becca and Charlie perform the task. The next year, another email and another task. They’ve finally figured out that Ally is doing it as a way to keep her memory alive, but it is also forcing Becca and Charlie to interact.

Every year that Becca and Charlie get together to once again spread part of Ally’s ashes, they end up learning more about what the other has been up to. Becca is an aspiring actress who isn’t having much luck in finding a steady job—or finding a good man to date. Charlie took a year off after graduating from university. He is a journalism major and finally lands a job. He also eventually starts dating a woman at work, and they marry. At his wedding reception, Becca is enraged because she thinks Charlie is disrespecting Ally’s memory even though it’s been several years since she died. As they bicker, it soon becomes apparent that he hasn’t told his bride the whole story about Ally. Within a couple of years, Charlie is once again alone. And each year Charlie and Becca continue to get together to spread more of Ally’s ashes.

Each year in TEN YEARS represents changes happening to Charlie and Becca. It turns out they are good listeners for each other, yet they don’t recognize how their relationship has changed. I won’t give away all the spoilers, but readers will soon realize what Ally is doing. She is bringing Charlie and Becca together. Did two people who thought they hated the other really turn out to be…perfect for each other? As you can guess, it takes time and the ups and downs of their lives before that question is answered. A compelling and intriguing tale, you won’t want to miss TEN YEARS.

Patti Fischer
Romance Reviews Today

When Becca’s best friend dies, the one person she doesn’t want to spend time with is the friend’s fiancé, Charlie. The felling is mutual. So when, a year after her death, she sends Becca and Charlie on a bucket list to spread her ashes, neither is too excited but agree to meet every year on the anniversary of her death.

This book was amazing!
First, I loved the format. Each year has one or two sections where you either follow Becca and Charlie in their lives or together completing the tasks. This gave room for me to be excited or anxious to see how their lives had changed. And man did I get anxious! You can tell pretty early in how suited they actually are for each other which makes them moving on with their lives so hard to read. But that’s some of my favorite kind of readers anxiety.
I also really liked Becca and Charlie. They are flawed and can’t see it. But they can see it in each other which makes for some high drama. The tasks that they need ti perform always put them at odds. Becca was also hilarious.

All in all, this was a really good romance. It’s a slow burn but worth it!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the gifted copy.

TEN YEARS by Pernille Hughes was a heart grabbing roller coaster of a ride. When the death of a friend unexpectedly brings a couple as often at odds as they are in union, the sparks fly and the pages are turned as fast as I can go to keep up with the twists and turns and results of this perfectly matched couple through the ups and downs of ten years of living. I especially enjoyed their dialogue and the fact that I had no idea what was going to happen next, but happy to go along for the ride in this wonderful writer's hands. I received a copy of this book and these thoughts are my own, unbiased thoughts.

4 stars! such an interesting book that had me excited about their story!

i was nervous about reading this just because i’ve found myself so-so about uk-based romances but this one was a beautiful balance of romance and their general lives and how they got there.

i am so into books that take place over a long timeline and missed connections and this didn’t disappoint. the grief and realizations they endured were captured in such a clear way although i think this would’ve been 10000 times more interesting if it were told in a first person perspective. i respected becca and charlie’s feelings and lives so much and wanted even more from them. first person would’ve made it a perfect book for me.

becca was such a sharp character you were rooting for and wanted to shake while charlie was so laidback who you also wanted to shake. i loved them both and they were real in a way that i was annoyed with them but in a way i understood. i love feeling annoyed with characters like they’re my friends making incorrect decisions because to me, it’s proof how the author was able to write them authentically. i wanted becca to understand her grief was holding her back but i could see myself right there giving myself or a friend grace around it, you know? they were just written in a way i loved.

tw: grief, death of a side character

thank you netgalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC in return for an honest review.

Ten Years, a novel by Pernille Hughes, available August 15, 2023!

Two characters, stricken with grief over the loss of their fiancée/friend Ally check off items on her bucket list in this novel enemies-to-lovers novel by Pernille Hughes. Told over the course of many years, Charlie and Becca seem utterly incompatible until brought together by forces from the grave, which show them that they are better working through their grief and supporting one another as friends and maybe more than that…

This is a slow burn, but you will root for them the entire book. The banter was great between the two characters, and their individual character arcs were well-developed. I liked how their lives and careers crossed paths, even if they made it a plan to see each other for Ally’s sake.

I would definitely pick up other books by this UK-based author. What a refreshing take on a second-chance romance with a cover to die for!

Thank you so much to Harper 360/One More Chapter and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced (e-)reader copy and a chance to rate and review this book!

4 ⭐️ 0.5 🌶

When Ally dies young, her best friend, Becca, and her fiancé, Charlie, are both devastated. Given that Becca and Charlie have never gotten along dating back to when all three were in university together, they assume they will no longer be in touch. But then it turns out that Ally's last wish is that Charlie and Becca each year jointly complete an item on her bucket list. They agree to honor Ally's request, so every year over the course of 10 years they find themselves coming together on different adventures. At first, they each drive the other up the wall like usual. But over time, they find themselves becoming closer and, much to their own surprise, perhaps even becoming friends ... or more.

This was a heart-warming and frequently funny story that also explored interesting themes around grief and whether and how people change as they older.

Highly recommended!

I received a digital ARC from Harper 360, One More Chapter via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this story. I connected with Becca and Charlie as they grieved the loss of Ally over ten years. However, at times, I felt the story became too repetitive and drawn out. I do look forward to reading more from Pernille Hughes in the future.

On reading the description of this book I knew it was to be a gutcrusher. Within the first few pages I was reading through wet eyes. There were plenty of laughs too. There couldn’t have been two better people to go through this bucket list kicking and screaming yet coming back for more. It’s crazy how much one can change over the course of 10 years. For these two it took a lot of grit to circle back to one another after some of their interactions. Sometimes your heart pushes you in the right direction and waits for your brain to catch up! This was a great read that I devoured within one sitting.

Before her passing, Ally leave a series of notes and emails that leave her boyfriend, Charlie, and bestie, Emma, on a series of bucket list activities. The catch? Charlie and Emma loathe each other, and Ally knew it. The relationship changes between Charlie and Emma is amazing and will have you laughing and crying.

Ten Years by Pernille Hughes is a laugh out loud, heart wrenching, joyful, lump in your throat treat. This rollercoaster ride delivered all the feels in the best possible way of two people grieving a loss over ten years. It is a UK based novel so the humor is English based but overall loved it!

Slow and steady book. Sometimes the female.main character was annoying but I grew to love her. The book is slow but I think it adds to the sense of time and slow burn. I ended up really enjoying it and it was incredibly complex.

Ten Years by Pernille Hughes was a fun read for me. Charlie and Becca have a history and then are constantly being thrown together because of their mutual love of Ally who is terminally ill. The bulk of the story is about Becca and Charlie traversing grief and finding themselves and what they really want over the course of 10 years. I enjoyed returning to these characters each morning and evening as I read this book and recommend it is a fun romantic tale and will look forward to other books by this author.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

Penniless Hughes writes romantic gold and has done it again. The plot, the flawed characters, the scenery and pacing are all sublime. Can't recommend highly enough.

"Ten Years" by Pernille Hughes is a slow-burn centered around loss and grief. The enemy-to-lover trope is done well and the book has high notes, but the chemistry between the leads doesn't jump off the page. Still, this is a novel worth the read.