I was hooked from the word go. Such a great storyline sensitively broached and beautifully written. It made me laugh, cry and fall in love with the characters.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the arc copy. I've already downloaded two other Lynsey James novels.

4.5 stars

Really enjoyable read.

Evan lost his wife 2 years ago, and this book follows his journey trying to put his life back together, and learning to move on with love. He does this with some help from letters his wife left.

I liked that the lead was male. I also loved he was getting used to be a single parent but there was no suggestion his sex made this harder or easier - he was just getting used to be the only parent, and wasn't in any way useless due to being a dad rather than a mum.

There were some brilliant stories related to him dating. And the fact others around him also tried online dating. Anyone who has tried online dating will understand the stories are very very accurate and realistic.

This story does also challenge the idea that everyone only has 'one true love'. In the real world I think most understand love is complex, comes in different forms, and is not limited to one person. So I really appreciated that a book marketed as a 'summer read' was brave enough to challenge some of the stereotypes in the genre.

I've said 4,.5 rather than 5 stars simply because I thought there was too much faffing about once he realised who he loved. However overall a fun read that challenges some of the outdated views people may have on this genre.

Thanks to Net Galley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book has all the makings of a beautiful story that everybody should be reading! I usually never quote books on kindle but I found myself doing it so much with this one! I really did not want to say goodbye to these characters!

Two years after the death of his wife Claire, Evan decides he has to get a grip, if not for himself, then for 5 year old daughter Violet. He dabbles in the world of internet dating with amusing results. Constantly worrying if he’s getting anything right. Meanwhile he has the letters written by Claire to guide him... Despite the heavyweight topic there are several laugh out loud moments. Once the cast of characters had been introduced it was also obvious what was going to happen so a bit too predictable for me. There’s the wonderful setting of Edinburgh and it’s attractions, some likeable characters to get to know plus an easy to read style of writing. A nice quick read for anyone with too little time for a huge tome.

This was a beautiful book. I loved the characters so much. It was sad but moving. Highly recommend but bring tissues.

This was a heartwarming tale of love, loss, and parenthood.

The Single Dad's Handbook follows Evan as he brings up his daughter following the death of her mum from cancer two years previously.

This book had me weeping, it's such a well told story of parenthood and the joys and difficulties it brings. As Evan reads the letters left by his late wife, I found her to be such a wonderful person that I missed her too!

Highly recommended.

Thanks to Netgalley and One More Chapter for the chance to read and review.

An emotional rollercoaster of a read, there’s humour, grief, sadness, but it’s so well balanced. I love Violet so much, what a great little character, all the characters are well constructed and feel relatable, I loved the fact Evan does ghost tours in Edinburgh, I love any book about Edinburgh, this was just a pleasure to read and thoroughly recommend this to everyone

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

A gloriously beautiful story of heartbreak and the road to recovery. I found my eyes filling with tears on several occasions and is definitely one of my favourite books this year.

A friend recommended this book so I was really excited to get a copy from NetGalley, unfortunately this book just wasn't a hit for me. I couldn't get engaged with the characters in the way that I would like and had to force myself to finish it. I think I struggled with the primary point of view being a male. I also didn't connect with the female lead- I think in large part because I am a mom and so I sadly identified with the deceased wife and mother which made the book a little too poignant for me. I think another reader who didn't have my same backstory would approach the novel very differently and enjoy it thoroughly. I will definitely try another novel from the same author with different character backstories.

The Single Dad’s Handbook is poignant, emotional and uplifting. It's beautifully written and conveys just how much strength it takes to move on and live life to the fullest after losing someone you love.

This was a delightful and very real story. Extremely moving in parts and always positive about very difficult situations.. Violet is a winner!!

I struggled a bit with this book because I was expecting a lighthearted single dad romcom, and that’s not what I got. It’s a pretty weighty book, and while I enjoyed it, I didn’t love it.

The letters that Claire left behind for Evan to read in raising their daughter Violet alone after her death made me equally sad and happy. I kept imagining myself in that position, so it was thought-provoking for me in that way. The letters are very bittersweet. But they really are a great tool in this book for displaying how Evan is trying to move forward after his wife’s death.

This was a wonderful story about navigating the unimaginable, daddies and little girls, finding love again after loss... and even finding yourself again when you are the one left behind. It was just missing that *punch* for me that makes a good book great.

I received an advanced copy via NetGalley and voluntarily left a review.

Wow what a story.

This is a sad yet at the same, time happy book. I love the father daughter relationship between little Violet and Evan.

The reason the book was called this is apparent fairly early on and its lovely and sad at the same time.

It's good that Evan realises he needs a bit of help sometime. I think families with children where both parents are around is diffident enough but when you're parenting on your own that must be so hard, not knowing if what you're doing it in your child's best interests etc.

This is a wonderful story the author has cleverly injected humour into what seems to be a very difficult subject. Grief and loss affect everyone differently. Even little Violet feels it in her own way.

I really liked that Evan was building up courage with the help of his Late wife Claire. He just went and did it and thought about it afterwards. You really get a sense of how Evan is feeling through the words in the book and I always think that's amazing think, to evoke such emotion with written word, it's like magic.

Fantastic, will recommend this to my friends and family.

Evan is the single dad referred to in the title. Two years previously his wife Claire died of cancer and he has been left bereft and trying to raise his daughter on his own. He has good friends and his mother is a life-saver but fundamentally it is down to Evan to get it right. One problem, two years on and he is still mourning the death of Claire and feels guilty because he knows he needs to do better in the care of his daughter, Violet.

‘Time to move on’ is the current theme of family and friends – but he cannot. He is stuck, tired and stressed. To top it all his best friend, Hannah, who had vowed to be with him every step of the way, decided to go travelling and so she did – leaving him lonely and angry with her. Now she has returned but he wants nothing to do with her – bearing a grudge.

Claire was obviously lovely because she was aware of how it would be for Evan and so she prepared a ‘handbook; a series of letters to Evan that will help him to raise their daughter, and know how she would have handled certain situations. Like ‘first day at school’. I am sure you will get the picture – because we have seen these kind of structures before.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is really sad in places, but very funny in others. The balance is perfect and although it may be considered predictable – so what? It is comforting.

By-the-way, did I mention that Evan runs ghost tours in Edinburgh now that’s not predictable at all!

Thank you to the author, publishers and NetGalley for providing an ARC via my Kindle in return for an honest review.

Wow. Just wow. What a beautifully written story that takes you along on Evans journey. His beloved wife is gone and she has left behind book of letters telling him how to deal with almost every scenario and move forward. I laughed, cried, sympathized, empathized and cheered for him and his adorable little girl Violet. Learning to navigate the world without the person you loved with every fiber of your being is unimaginable. Having to do it while trying to raise a little girl, run your business and figure out how to get out of bed while everyone else in your life is telling you it’s time to let go and start living again? This author captured his experience with such grace and humor. I enjoyed every moment of his book.

A very emotional story that had me laughing and crying. Evan Harper is the single dad of the title and the handbook is a book if letters put together by his wife, Claire, when she knew she was dying. Evan and little daughter Violet have muddled through two years without Claire, and he hasn't managed to open the letters. Now Violet is starting school Evan realises he is a mess and picks up Claire's letters. His best friend Hannah reappears from travelling the world and despite bitterness at her having left in the first place, they resume a friendship of sorts, as Evan dips his toes into the world of online dating. Some of the dates had me in stitches, and I laughed at some of Violet's antics, especially when she said she'd volunteered him for baking as she thought it would be funny. Some very poignant moments as you would expect, and all with the backdrop of Edinburgh, and Evan's atmospheric ghost walks. An emotional, feel good read. #netgalley #thesingledadshandbook

Well this book sucked me in from the start.
I know, with it touching on cancer and death, this can be a hard read for some people but believe me when I say it was done with great care and attention. Very subtle mentions of it and very delicately.
The main characters are Evan, Claire, Violet and Hannah
All I can say about Violet is... I love her! She is such a funny, quirky, cute and caring little lady. She had me laughing out loud!
Evan is a great guy who has lost his way a little bit and Hannah is his best friend. His wife has died of cancer before the book starts so no spoilers here!
All in all a solid 5 ⭐ for me
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers and the author for the privilege to read this book for my honest opinion

Evan is struggling. His much loved wife, Claire died two years ago of cancer. He is left to bring up his now five year old daughter. As she is about to start school he has to admit that everything is getting too much. Before Claire died she wrote him a number of letter to be read as different circumstances arose. Although he had been reluctant to look at them he finds comfort in them & in writing letter to Claire. Can they really help to drag him back to life- not just for his sake, but for Violet too? Claire sounded such a lovely person I found I was almost grieving her death too!

This could have been sickly sentimental but it wasn't. It was a sweet story with both laughter & tears. Evan was very lucky to have such a strong support group that had the sense & compassion to help him find his own way forward. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book. It is one I won't forget in a hurry.

What a journey this has been such an incredible story of life, loss and love
I laughed and I cried and I had to step away few times si I can recharge batteries and start again
This is definitely a five star for me and if it were not for life getting in the way I would have read it in one day
Evan is my hero!

Nice story - a bit like PS I Love You in it’s premise. Good for a holiday or when you don’t want to concentrate too hard.