It was a pretty simple and predictable book. I read it a long time ago at the time of this review and I can not remember much beyond the romance and the relationship within the book didn't feel genuine. It felt a bit forced, which for a romance book is never great. Thank you for the opportunity to read it so long ago, the writing was good at the beginning. I did enjoy the wedding scene at the beginning, it was written well and had me giggling.

I enjoyed this book! However the cover and title is misleading. It’s not the lighthearted chick lit you would think. There is some substance, it’s just a little confusing and could have had more depth. Overall a quick read!

When I first picked up "Husband Material" by Emily Belden, I expected a light-hearted romantic comedy. However, what I found within its pages exceeded my expectations and left me pleasantly surprised. This book is a delightful blend of humor, heartache, and personal growth, making it an engrossing read that kept me hooked from beginning to end.

The story revolves around Charlotte Rosen, a young woman whose life took a sudden turn after her husband died tragically just one year into their marriage. When a mysterious package arrives at her doorstep containing the ashes of her late husband's suit, Charlotte is forced to confront her past and the secrets she thought she left behind. The premise alone piqued my interest, and I found myself immediately invested in Charlotte's journey.

One of the strengths of this book is its well-developed characters. Charlotte is a relatable and flawed protagonist, dealing with grief and the complexities of her past while trying to find her place in the world. Emily Belden skillfully portrays her struggles and growth, making her feel like a real person rather than just a fictional character. The supporting cast is equally compelling, each with their unique quirks and backstories that add depth and complexity to the narrative.

Belden's writing style is engaging and witty, filled with clever dialogue and humorous anecdotes that had me chuckling out loud. The book strikes a balance between light-hearted moments and more serious themes, handling topics such as loss, forgiveness, and the search for identity with sensitivity and grace. I appreciated how the author tackled these weighty subjects while still maintaining an overall uplifting and enjoyable tone.

Another aspect I admired was Belden's ability to seamlessly weave together past and present timelines. Through alternating chapters, we get glimpses into Charlotte's life before and after her husband's death, slowly unraveling the mystery surrounding his untimely passing. This narrative structure kept me guessing and added an element of suspense that heightened my engagement with the story.

If I had one minor critique, it would be that certain plot twists felt a tad predictable. While this didn't detract significantly from my enjoyment of the book, a bit more unpredictability would have enhanced the element of surprise.

In conclusion, "Husband Material" is a captivating novel that combines romance, humor, and personal growth into an engaging and memorable story. Emily Belden has crafted a relatable protagonist and a cast of compelling characters, and her writing style is both witty and heartfelt. While a few twists were easy to anticipate, the overall reading experience was highly satisfying. If you're in the mood for a book that will make you laugh, cry, and reflect on life's unexpected turns, "Husband Material" is an excellent choice.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Super fun romantic romp. Will recommend to anyone who loves this kind of story as it’s sure to impress!

Source: Thank you to @NetGalley for the chance to read and review this title.
Genre: Realistic Contemporary Fiction
Intended Audience: Adult (Young Adult appropriate)
Star Rating: 3
Why I picked it up: Honestly, I don't exactly remember. I would guess, knowing me as I do, that I grabbed it because even though it was outside of my general reading preferences, there was a woman who loved data, and a possible mystery, and I've had some good luck with fun romance titles recently. 

What’s It All About? Charlotte has been widowed for longer than she was ever married. Her husband had been perfect, the perfect honest kind personality in the perfect southern LA packaging. She spends her days coding programs for The Influencer Firm and her nights coding a dating site that predicts likelihood of marriage. She is her own and only test subject. Everything is going along nicely, until the ashes of her dead husband show up at her apartment, along with plenty of family secrets. Now she's feuding with her ex-mother-in-law, refriending her husband's best friend Brian, and finding that nothing is quite the way she remembers it. In the end, she will have to choose between her data and her heart. 

My thoughts: First full confession: I almost read the whole book in one night. Second full confession: It took several minutes to remember Charlotte's name, even though I set the book down five minutes ago. This was a fun read, and there were are few twists and turns that I didn't expect. I wish that some of those thread had played out differently, but then I realize this is a romance, not a mystery or thriller. I wonder if I would have enjoyed it as a thriller (probably not). Which is all to say that this was an engaging and entertaining read, though not particularly memorable for me. I think in the end everything just fell a little flat. However, I can definitely see what would make someone love this book. That someone just wasn't me this time. Themes: Grief, loss, lies, secrets, family, romance, friendsRecommended For:  Fans of cozy mysteries and light-hearted fiction. Readers who always expect the "happily ever after" at the end.

I kinda feel for the character. She was way too determined to move on. But yet, the past is catching up on her. She can't escape when her dead husband ashes arrives on her door steps. Things are going to get messier than ever. And she has no idea what she is going to do.

This was a good enough story. It was sad and cute and heartwarming all at the same time. I liked the idea of the purse being kind of its own character.

This was a really cute romcom - I feel like it would make a great movie! I did find the characters a little hard to relate to, but otherwise a great book!

I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Charlotte opens a box one day and finds the urn with her husband's ashes in it. She thought he was safely entombed in Paula Alto but with the fires it was destroyed but the urn survived and was sent to Charlotte. Now she has to decide what to do. That, and her mother-in-law now shows up on her doorstep and wants her son back. When she reaches out to her husband's best friend this leads to so many secrets and a new path. Will she be willing to go in this direction. This book brought me through so many feelings. Being a widow for 3 years and still dealing with losing my husband and son shortly after, this book made me laugh and brought some tears but overall I just loved it. Highly recommend this one!

Apologies for the late response on this title, and apologies for clogging up an inbox on old titles.

While I am aware it's obvious, I have chosen not to read/review this title.

As always, I appreciate access to titles and look forward to the next one...which I have likely already read based on how long ago this title was published.

Thanks, again.

This book is a case of not realizing what it was when I picked it up. I really wanted a light frothy rom com, which this isn't. I'm not saying it's bad, it just isn't what I wanted.

While I thought this one was cute, it left me wanting more. It may just be a case of wrong book, wrong time for me.

This story didn't work for me. First being from LA I was excited to have a story set in la la land, however, it ended up just being a caricature of the city and its people. It ended up being a distraction and didn't help the story at all. I actually felt annoyed at the parts that were highlighted as it was off and didn't. I also felt the first 2/3 of the book was pointless and didn't understand the motivation of any of the characters. What saved the book for me was the last 1/3, which was amazing, and wish the book started at that point and was more of a journey of forgiveness, self-discovery, and letting yourself love again.

Husband Material had an interesting premise but I had to DNF it, sadly. I think I have come to really understand what I love in romance and this one just could not hold my attention. I found the main character to be a little bit oblivious. I also went into it expecting a romance but it was so focused on grief that it was not what I was looking for.

This was a cute story, but a very sad one, too. I enjoyed the author's writing, but I found myself struggling to get through the material about halfway through the book. I also think I misunderstood the meaning of the title which led to me being quite surprised when I finally figured out what Husband Material meant.

I am sorry for not reviewing fully but I don’t have the time to read this at the moment. I believe that it wouldn't benefit you as a publisher or your book if I only skimmed it and wrote a rushed review. Again, I am sorry for not fully reviewing!

This book was fantastic, a scene you could never imagine yourself in; a young widow - a fact you keep a secret, when suddenly your husband's ashes show up 5 years later. You can't stand your MIL but now you have to deal with her.

An excellent book

This was the most unexpected, sweetest, quirky yet morbid book ever. A definite beach read full of contradictions and so different from the way most chick lit books are written. loved it

Twenty-nine year old Charlotte Rosen has been keeping a secret from almost everyone in her life. As she works hard to develop an app that will show her a perfect love match, will Charlotte's past derail her desire to move forward?

The beginning of the novel makes way into a book that is completely different than I was expecting. I am not sure this is a good thing, as the potential charm of the story takes a darker turn. The relationship drama, both friendly and romantic, takes the book down a few pegs. Charlotte is a character I thought I would like, but I did not necessarily enjoy her story. Overall, readers who like novels about messy relationships may like Husband Material, but I thought that the author missed an opportunity to tell a charming story.

Disclaimer: I was given an Advanced Reader's Copy of Husband Material by NetGalley and the publisher, Graydon House. The choice to review this book was entirely my own.

I related so much more to Charlotte than I originally believed when I learned about this book.. Honestly it was just what I needed to start more year off on a solid start. It was a delightful, quirky read. When you decided to give this one a chance, grab your favorite hand bag and hold on tight! At first glance, you may believe that Charlotte Rosen has got it going on. She lives in LA, she's privy to all of the newest things from her cool job at The Influencer Firm. She loves her dog, and adores her quirky roommate Casey. But looking past that, there is so much to Charlotte. The first thing being she's actually a widow....

It may seem like a serious topic, but Emily Belden covers it well.