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.

Thank you Harper 360 and NetGalley for an advance read in exchange for this review.

Becca and Charlie have been enemies since college, but, to their dismay, have had to remain a constant in each other’s lives. When Ally, Becca's best friend and Charlie's fiance, passes away, they finally hope they're done with one another for good. Not so much... Ally has given them a bucket list to complete together, and so the two connect annually in honor of their favorite person. Ten Years tells of Becca and Charlie's lives through the next decade as they navigate grief, joy, adulthood, careers, and relationships.

I did really enjoy Ten Year's honesty about some of the very real struggles and unmet expectations that occur during the transition to adulthood. Hughes also did a great job displaying some of the many stages and ways to grieve. Although I typically love enemies-to-lovers and slow-burns, Ten Years was unfortunately not for me. I wasn't a big fan of either character, and although they shared great connection, it didn't translate over to good chemistry. I know it was set over 10 years, but it definitely felt dragged out in many areas. Ultimately though, it was a sweet story that was very honest and emotional. I would rate it 2.5/5 stars,

This enemies to lovers romance was so emotional... ALL the emotions. I felt joy, sadness, and aggravation while I was reading it.

Ally and Charlie are engaged when Ally, sadly, gets sick and passes away. After Ally is gone, she has left Charlie and Becca, her best friend, a letter with her bucket list. She wants them to complete it together, but Charlie and Becca do NOT get along. Ally was the only thing they had in common, and now she is gone.

Becca and Charlie are portrayed as real individuals who continue to grieve their best friend, but most importantly, the growth they both have seems very real, especially Becca.

I was sitting at a 3 star in the middle of this book, but the second half really picked up. Then, the ending really sealed the deal for me. Thank you NetGally and Harper 360 for the ARC!

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.

Thank you so much to Netgalley for letting me receive an ARC of this book!

I was following the book's release date since last year because I thought it would be a second chance romance or a friends to lovers romance. When I read that first page though, I knew I was going to cry the whole way to the finish.

The story follows Charlie and Becca and how they lost someone who was important for both of them: Ally. Charlie's fiancée and Becca's best friend. Throughout the story, we get to see how Charlie and Becca handle the loss of Ally and how they overcome their sadness. It's an enemies to lovers, slowburn romance and contemporary fiction kind of book, and if you're into any of those, you'll probably like this book.

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!

DNF at 10%. I did not like the writing style. Thank you for the chance to read and review this book.

This book was definitely unique, I just feel like it fell a little bit flat in my opinion. It had so much potential! I’d still buy it.

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

Novels that revolve around grief and pushing through it are always difficult for me. That being said, this book does a beautiful job of taking the reader on that journey in a way that is not overwhelming.

Becca and Charlie do not like each other, but they had one thing in common - Ally. When she dies prematurely, the two are left bereft until one year later when they each receive an email from the beyond. Schedule send leads the two on an adventure that continues for five years as they continue to fulfill Ally's bucket list and start to get to know each other without their buffer.

As the years go on and differences arise, Becca and Charlie learn more about each other, Ally, and their paths going forward. They embrace changes in life, career, and love in the hopes of finding some lasting happiness.

This was a well written novel that felt authentic in its storytelling. Thank you to NetGalley for the digital ARC!

So while I read this book quick - I still can't decide if I really liked it. I love the idea and the premise behind the book but I think the execution fell short for me. Over the span of 10 years, the MC get together to complete tasks. Both MC were a bit whiny and childish. Also, the chapters tended to be on the long side and I hate long chapters.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy from NetGalley for an honest review.

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.

"Ten Years" by Pernille Hughes is an enchanting and delightful romantic comedy that will leave you with a warm heart and a smile on your face. Hughes' writing is witty, engaging, and filled with relatable characters that come to life on the pages. The story follows the lives of childhood sweethearts, Ruby and Jacob, as they reunite after a decade apart. The chemistry between the two is palpable, and their journey is filled with laughter, surprises, and a fair share of bumps along the way. Hughes expertly blends humor and heartfelt moments, creating a perfect balance that keeps you hooked from start to finish. If you're in the mood for a charming and uplifting tale of love and second chances, "Ten Years" is a must-read that will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy inside.

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.

Here's the thing about romances like this.. it feels *ick* because the guy is clearly a mess and doesn't feel 'hero' worthy. I don't think it's romantic to mess around with people's feelings because you're not sure what you want in life.. on top of the dead fiance thing?

THE GOOD:
- I really appreciate how well male grieving is portrayed. I don't think I've ever read something from that perspective, and think the world needs more.
- I loved Becca's character. Her life is hard, and she absolutely deserves her wins!! Anyone who comes from a tough home life can tell you that it's heartwarming to get to read someone having their well-deserved glow up.

THE BAD:
Ten Years is #triggering for so many reasons. Do we think that men's grieving gives them a right to lie and basically get married and ruin someone else's first marriage because they can't sort themselves out? The Victorian-Era feminist in me was screaming the whole time I read this. It's ok to be indecisive as a man, and we don't expect men to all be of the same stale/tough emotional state anymore.. but to drag another woman into it to make your life feel somewhat less empty? I just could not with that part of the plot.

I was unable to finish this book and thus will not be posting a full review. Even though I knew the premise when I started reading, I found the way in which it was written incredibly callous and disrespectful to their friend and lover who had died.... I couldn't get past this. Thank you for your consideration and the opportunity.

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>

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.