How to Get a Life in Ten Dates was a great friends-to-lovers romance and the sometimes disastrous experiences of modern dating, Haleigh is ready to give up on dating entirely and doesn't want to deal with the nagging of her friends and family anymore to find her life partner and live up to their expectations in terms of her personal life and in her career. So she gives them each the opportunity to set her up on two dates with people of their choosing. Some of the horrendous dates are hilarious to read too! And right when one date stands out from the rest and seems promising - Haleigh's best friend Jack wants to throw himself into consideration despite them both agreeing to move on after a vacation fling/hookup five years earlier. Haleigh and Jack were both very compelling and relatable characters as they manage anxiety and OCD, along with trying to live up to expectations not only set by themselves but also by others. Was definitely an enjoyable read - will definitely look to read more books by Jenny Howe. Thank you to St. Martin's Press/St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for the chance to read this novel.

Jenny Howe’s "How to Get a Life in Ten Days" is a refreshing and insightful exploration of self-discovery, ambition, and the quest for personal happiness. Centered around the protagonist, Clara, who is at a crossroads in her life, the novel invites readers on a journey of transformation and empowerment, all set against a backdrop of humor and heartfelt moments. "How to Get a Life in Ten Days" is a charming and thought-provoking read that resonates with anyone seeking to make meaningful changes in their life. Jenny Howe has crafted a narrative that is both entertaining and inspiring, reminding us that sometimes all it takes is a little courage and a sense of adventure to reclaim our lives. This book is a delightful addition to the contemporary fiction landscape, sure to leave readers feeling motivated and hopeful.

This was my first Jenny L. Howe book and It will not be my last. I will definitely check out her earlier books as well. How to get a Life in 10 Dates was a cute and funny read. The characters were funny and I really enjoyed the dates! I recommend it to all that want a fun beach read.

I'm definitely a fan of Jenny L. Howe, and I enjoyed this one (especially the brief cameos from the protagonists of her earlier books!). This probably isn't my favorite of hers, but only because I liked On the Plus Side so much! Our female main character in this one is Haleigh, a 20-something freelance editor who is tired of having bad dates and being asked about her dating life. She decides to give her friends and family a chance to get their unsolicited advice and set-ups out of the way by letting them set her up with a total if 10 different dates. She has some pretty hilariously awful dates and one or two pretty good ones, but the whole time she also has it in the back of her mind that she's been in love with her best friend Jack since forever, but after a disastrous (but romantic) hookup during a vacation in college, they have vowed to keep things 100% platonic. I found Haleigh to be a relatable and compelling main character, and I enjoyed the humor in this, but it did feel like the whole thing was leading to a foregone conclusion. It was a conclusion that I liked, so it didn't bother me, but at the end I felt like most of her dates were actually pretty forgettable. I almost wish she'd had more dates, just for the humor. I did really appreciate the mental health representation here, especially as a person with OCD who appreciates sensitive treatment of that in fiction.

Jenny is the queen of fat rep romance! I absolutely love seeing big girls on her covers and reading their realistic and relatable stories. She's so necessary in the world of romance books. I will always pick up her novels.

I forgot to review this one right after I read it and now I don't remember much beyond the fact that it was ok. I don't think I would pick up another book by this author.

This is my second book by Jenny Howe and I truly love her characters, plots and avoidance of the typical third-act-breakups!

Read if you like:
❤️ Friends to Lovers
❤️ Honest Characters without extra drama
❤️ Dating Challenge
❤️ Pop Culture References
❤️ Lovable Characters
❤️ Body Positivity

Summary:
Haleigh is fed up with dating. To prove it’s hard to find the one, she challenges her friends and families to set her up on Ten Dates. The hilarity of some of these dates, and her honestly trying, makes the book so lovable. She does end up meeting the perfect guy, but she has one more date and it’s a surprise set-up.

Would absolutely recommend this one!
4.5 Stars

This book was such a gem. I especially loved the plus-size and mental health representation. Haleigh was open and honest about both her size and her anxiety struggles and it was a joy to read how confident and self-assured she was, even when she was struggling. I found myself laughing out loud at some of the dates she went on, and at her interactions with the side characters. As for her friendship with Jack, I truly couldn't figure out why they weren't together, even after I found out what had happened between them. If they had talked through their issue when it happened, things between them would have been very different. But, their friendship was beautiful and it was endearing to see his reaction to Haleigh's dates. There was a lot of character growth throughout the book, and I was rooting for Haleigh in every way. I'm so happy to have read this hysterical, low-spice rom-com, and will be smiling about it for quite some time.

Pub Date: December 10th 2024

Thank you Netgalley and St Martins Press/ St Martins Griffin for the arc of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

I won’t lie, I went into How to Get a Life in Ten Dates hesitantly—I’ve read another book by Jenny L. Howe and just didn’t enjoy it—but I was ultimately pleasantly surprised. Haleigh is exhausted with dating, especially her family’s nagging about it—and it doesn’t help she’s been in love with her best friend Jack her whole life. To stop the nagging once and for all, she and Jack come up with a scheme: her friends and family can set her up with two men or women and if no one is a good match, they have to stop meddling. It took me a little to get into, there’s a lot of set up going on in this one. But Haleigh is a really relatable character. She’s 25 and figuring it out—her job, her living situation as her roommate’s boyfriend moves in (they all get along but she wants to give them space), and just dating in general. There’s a lot of complaining about being an adult, but honestly I felt that was super relatable, but I did have a moment of feeling like I was in my thirties (I’m 31) and that Haleigh was just so young. The friendships though are really strong. And Jack is so sweet, they have a good and authentic friendship that made sense to move to a romantic vibe. The dates were quirky and entertaining and it never felt like it was dragging on. The communication on all fronts was there, and the mental health rep was also really well executed. I had a lot of fun with this one!

"How to Get a Life in 10 Dates" by Jenny Howe is a charming and witty romantic comedy that follows the journey of a protagonist navigating the ups and downs of dating in the modern world. The premise revolves around the idea of embarking on a series of ten dates, each one offering a unique experience and a chance for personal growth.

Howe's writing is engaging and infused with humor, making it easy to connect with the main character's relatable struggles and triumphs. The narrative is filled with amusing situations, heartfelt moments, and a diverse cast of love interests that keep the story fresh and entertaining.

Themes of self-discovery, friendship, and the complexities of relationships are woven throughout, encouraging readers to reflect on their own experiences with love and connection. The pacing is brisk, with each date presenting new challenges and insights, adding to the overall enjoyment of the story.

Overall, "How to Get a Life in 10 Dates" is a delightful read that balances humor and romance, making it a perfect choice for fans of lighthearted fiction. It captures the excitement and unpredictability of dating while highlighting the importance of being true to oneself in the search for love.

3.5 stars

When Haleigh’s sister sends out invitations to an upcoming party, Haleigh realizes it’s time to get her life together. With no plus-one to bring, and after a string of bad dates, she decides to let family and friends set her up in hopes that they’ll finally stop pushing her to find a match.

I’ve liked Jenny L. Howe’s last couple of books, so I was excited to see this one was coming soon. I like the way she writes plus-sized characters, like they’re not ashamed of their bodies and just embrace who they are.

I definitely saw where this book was heading, although that doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy it. Some of the dates were hilariously bad. But I would’ve liked to see a little more backstory with Jack. I think that would’ve helped their rules make more sense.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for an advanced copy of this book.

Although the storyline was predictable, this was a really cute and fun read! And I'm a sucker for plus-size representation in romance novels, I always appreciate that inclusiveness. I enjoy a good second-chance romance, especially between friends. This was a great palette-cleanser read!

You know exactly what is going to happen within the first page. No conflict. No interesting personalities. Barely any growth. 4 sentences of spice. Dull.

Second chance romance! Reminded me of The rule book, dating with rules in place. I giggle all the way thru.

I really enjoyed this story about two friends pining for each other years after a past hookup that didn’t end well. Loved the characters and found the story funny as well.

This was a super cute and quick read. Haleigh and Jack are best friends and she’s in love with him but they have rules in place. So she makes a deal with her friends and family that they can each set her up on two dates because she was having no luck finding someone on her own. From there, chaos ensues, some good dates and some bad dates, but nonetheless entertaining. There are so many good side characters to this book, and I liked how the author represented mental health and body image. This was my first book by this author but it will not be my last.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a copy of this ARC.

This was a fun time that made me binge read for hours. I enjoyed the relatability to our main characters and just the absolute insanity that is the blind dating crowd. I was going to rate it 4 stars but felt the ending was a little rushed which felt abrupt. But overall, I really enjoyed it.

This was a very cute and easy read. I enjoyed it for the most part. Thank you to the publisher for a review copy!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review..

This book was a fun time, but I didn’t love the main character. Haleigh simultaneously feels both too old and too young to be acting the way she does. First, PLEASE can we stop the overly dramatic “woe is me I’ll die alone” viewpoint from characters in their mid twenties? I’m not buying it. Especially when that same character is continuously acting childish and bemoaning “adulting” activities. Not a fan. But ALSO I don’t love her dynamic with Jack. Don’t get me wrong, I think they’re perfect for each other, but I wanted to shake them throughout the entire series. It’s possible friends to lovers isn’t my jam, because OBVIOUSLY YOU LOVE EACH OTHER. Stop dragging other lovely humans into this and then hurting them. That aside, it was a very fun read and I enjoyed the premise of a character going on lots of random blind dates. I liked have a fat main character that just got to be a romantic lead. It was positive and a refreshing change from a lot of plus size led books. Give me more of this!

TLDR: easy, fun read with a mildly frustrating main character. 3/5

This book was a cute read. I really liked the MFC but I wasn't a big fan of the MMC. I know the worked through the issues they had after their night in Hawaii but I never was really rooting for him. I liked the guy she was dating that she met through her roommate. I just didn't feel very invested in the relationship with the MFC and the MMC. I could see them breaking up so the ending was kinda meh.