Review of Robbi Renee's 'Somebody's Husband'
In “Somebody’s Husband”

Blurb:

A grieving doctor and a nurturing professor join
forces on a potentially groundbreaking medical
study that sparks a profound connection neither
saw coming in this unconventional romantic drama from the author who brought you the book club favorite Somebody's Wife.

Dr. Dresden Xavier moved his family back to his
hometown of Monroe City after an unfortunate
tragedy. Searching for an escape from the reality
of grief and depression, Dresden buries himself
in a grueling medical research project that could
yield life-changing results. What was supposed to be a short-term partnership with the professor of nursing at Monroe University quickly morphs into a case study of love ... or maybe just an experiential error.

Harper Kingsley, a loving wife, mother, and
professor, sought tenure and a little peace and
happiness in her fast-paced life. In the public eye,
Harper is a poised perfectionist, but behind closed doors, she desperately fights to mend the broken threads of her feeble family. Lies, sickness, and secrets that could destroy her family permeate her soul until the healing touch of Dr. Xavier changes her trajectory. What was supposed to be a clinical research assignment evolves into something much greater and beyond their control.


My thoughts:

Robbi Renee masterfully explores the intricate tapestry of love, grief, and healing through the poignant journey of Dr. Dresden Xavier and Harper Kingsley. Both characters find solace in each other after experiencing the profound heartache of losing loved ones to cancer, creating a genuine connection that serves as the backbone of the story. The author deftly navigates the complexities of their relationship, illustrating how the road to healing is rarely straightforward, especially for Dr. Xavier, who is still grappling with the emotional aftermath of his late wife’s passing.

One of the book's standout elements is how Renee poignantly portrays the reactions of each family members to grief and their parents finding love again. A particularly touching moment occurs when the twins are disagreeing and one of Dr. Xavier’s twins steps in to fulfill her mother's last wish. When Harper Kingsley shares her own traumatic past with the twins it is heartwarming and marks a significant turning point in their connection, allowing the reader to witness the tender beginnings of their bond amid shared experiences of sorrow and loss of a mother.

Renee's sensitive depiction of difficult situations and emotions resonates deeply, inviting readers to confront their own feelings of loss and the spectrum of emotions tied to recovery. Her skillful writing reassures those who have traversed the path of grief that they are not alone, and it is perfectly acceptable to experience the full range of human emotion.

Character development is another triumph in this novel. Both Dr. Xavier and Harper evolve significantly throughout the story, with their individual journeys adding depth to their relationship. Renee takes the necessary time to flesh out their characters, allowing readers to genuinely invest in their growth and the evolution of their bond.

Overall, "Somebody’s Husband" is a beautifully crafted, emotional, and heartwarming read that resonates on multiple levels. Robbi Renee has created characters that are relatable and authentic, making their struggles and triumphs feel real. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone looking for a story that encapsulates the complexities of love and loss while offering hope for healing.

Thank you to Black Odyssey Media and NetGalley for this Advance Readers Copy ebook in exchange for my honest review.

Author Robbi Renee never seems to disappoint!! This book was well written, it was a steady read. I thoroughly enjoyed it from the beginning to the end. A true second chance at love at its finest. This book took me on a few emotional roller coasters. I laughed, cried and even yelled at the pages but it kept my attention. Professor Harper was a amazing woman better woman than most.... Dr. Xavier my my my he definitely deserved a happily ever after. Now I would like a continuation of this amazing love story if that's not to much to ask!!

This book was amazing! There were times it had me in tears. The character development. The genuine organic connection between characters. It was just as it would be in real life. Experiencing raw emotions after life's unexpected blows. Such a great love story.

thank you so much net galley for the arc copy. so this book was just so good such a beautiful,heart shattering read.Dresden and nina's love story was so emotinaly incrediable. definanly want to read more by this author.

So this book feels like it needs to be taken on two parts. Before and after Terrance’s death. Because it feels like two different stories. The first part is deeply emotional and the second part is more sexy and cozy.
I like the first part because of how all the characters are introduced. I think the reveal of Terrance and then the reveal that he and Harper were actually divorced was clever because at first I said wtf? 😂 I liked the character reveals. However, I do think all the stuff with Terrance took up way more space in the story than it should have. I feel like the story should have focussed more on the relationship between Harper and Dresden. In the second part of the story I felt that alot of aspects of their relationship were rushed because so much of the first part of the book was about Terrance and Harper’s failed marriage and only crumbs of Dresden and Harper. A lot of their relationship was happening in their own heads. It was almost 80% through that Dresden even expressed an interest in Harper. I did enjoy the sexiness of the second part of the story though. These people are grown and I loved reading grown folks fall in love and navigate a second chance at love. Another thing I wish was that the story took more time to adjust the kids to the new relationship and its effect on them. That part was rushed too. With Hasan I needed more of his issues in page than just in one sentence and since it’s Dresden and Harper’s story I would appreciate that stuff being on page and seeing how Dresden deals with Hasan. Also seeing Hasan and Trae notice specific differences between how their father treated their mother contrasted with Dresden’s treatment would have been interesting to build the bond with Dresden and to respect Harper more.

I enjoyed the third person POV shifting from different characters because it gave every person’s thought proves. I really liked that. The story is also written well and the dialogue was pretty good. I loved Dresden and Harper as a couple. I was rooting for them from the beginning and I loved their chemistry.

If there is one thing that Robbi Renee is going to do, it’s write a MMC that you absolutely fall in love with! This story was complicated but beautiful! One could hope that if they’re ever in a real situation like this, it turns out as beautiful as this book was written!

Dr. Dresden Xavier moved his family back to his hometown of Monroe City after an unfortunate tragedy. He throws himself into work with a medical research project, however, what he wasnt expecting was meeting the beautiful Harper Kingsley a Professor in the School of Nursing at Monroe University to be one of his colleagues. Harper is dealing with a heavy situation of her own! But once they meet each other they knew their meeting wasn’t coincidental!

I absolutely loved this book.

Harper and Dre both pulled at my heartstrings with their story.

Harper is dealing with so much on her plate. Being a caregiver is hard but being a caregiver to your ex husband while also parenting your teenage/adult sons while working full time is something else. Harper just wanted someone to see her and she got that with Dr. Xavier.


Dresden still reeling from the loss of his wife has made a bold move moving back to his hometown Monroe to be closer to family and friends. What he didn't know what a new love was waiting for him that neither would expect. One that would help usher in healing.

One thing I'm happy about was the realistic scenarios in book. Everything wasn't perfect but everything was the way it should be .

Somebody husband was amazing read and beautifully written. I'm not the typical person to cry while reading but baby I was sobbing. The way Dresden loved his wife is definition of in sickness and health. Him fighting with himself to not love another but as they said the heart wants what it wants. This was my first read with author and it will not be last.

This is an example of why adore Robbi Renee's books.🥰🥰 I was lured in with Dresden's story and the love of his life, Nina. Then we are introduced to Harper and her Ex Terrance. This story was so moving it brought tears😢😢 to my eyes..How challenging is it to find love again after....Please, do not sleep on Somebody's Husband.....I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Somebody's Husband by Robbi Renee is a uniquely different spin on the previous installment of Somebody's Wife/Forever. It is a fresh look at two couples relationships with spouses who are dealing with similar medical diagnoses and how it impacts the spouse, but more importantly, the children of medical professionals called to treat a terminal illness! It's lovingly gut-wrenching at times an honest look at how two families uniquely deal with the fallout from cancer. Two unsuspecting individuals, a doctor and nurse, find one another while exploring a critical clinical trial. It's the children and their love of their parents that set the stage for an amazing story of life's ups and downs while navigating grief. Dr. Dresden is exuding BDE while Nurse Kingsley is unassumingly alluring. A recipe for a very real and sexy romance with a few unexpected strings. Robbi Renee did it again, and I can only hope this becomes an audiobook because bringing these words to life can only be described as EPIC!

I loved, loved, loved this book!!! At this point Ribbi Renee can do no wrong in my eyes! The love for Dresden and Harper was so beautiful. Two people overcoming the grief of a spouse. But the love that Dresden had for Rosie was unmatched. Anyone thats married can relate. A must read!

This is a beautiful story about love after grief and I’ve never read a book so heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time! These characters took me through a hell of a roller coaster but I was all worth it. Robbi Rene is very quickly becoming one of my favorite black romance authors. Thank you NetGalley and Black Odyssey Media for this ARC

Overall Rating: 5.0 (♾️) / 5.0
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

I LOVED THIS BOOK!

First of all Ms. Robbi Renee knows how to write! I have read so many of her books and she never disappoints.

𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲'𝐬 𝐇𝐮𝐬𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐝 was soooooo good. It is a story of love, lost, grief, healing, and second chances. The writing was superb and I loved how the author took her time to develop the characters. This was done in such an exceptional manner that I was able to feel their pain and grief. I am not a big crier when it comes to reading but I was crying like a baby when reading this. And don't get me wrong, I cried because I could see myself in the characters. They were so real and went through real emotions and had to make real life, tough decisions. It was just incredible to see and read. Like I said before, and I will continue to say, the writing was superb! I loved Harper and Dresden's story. These two went through so much in their lives and I really liked how the author did not just make everything sunshine and rainbows. This made the characters relatable and realistic and it also helped in making the plot more real and enjoyable.

Another thing I will note is, like some people, I don't usually like stories told in 3rd person but again, Ms. Renee just knows what she is doing. This writing style was necessary for the story. It allowed the reader not to only get the FMC and MMC's story but to also get into the mind of some of the secondary characters. There is so much more I loved about the book but I do not want to ruin it for you with spoilers. All I can say is read it, you will not be disappointed.

I highly recommend 𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲'𝐬 𝐇𝐮𝐬𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐝. You will cry...a lot, but you will also laugh and rejoice at the end.

🆆🅷🅰🆃 🆃🅾 🅴🆇🅿🅴🅲🆃
🤎40+ MC
🤎Single Dad
🤎Widower
🤎Small Town
🤎HBCU
🤎Second Chance at Love
🤎Slow Burn

🆆🅷🅰🆃 🆃🅾 🅴🆇🅿🅴🅲🆃
🤎"The sun, the moon, and the stars. Mommy is everywhere we are."
🤎"She's magnificent, he thought. An impeccable soul that had him mesmerized and f**ing mortified in the same breath."
🤎"it was him. His eyes were pools of unwavering empathy; genuine compassion that felt like a warm embrace amid the winter's chilll. She needed him and didn't even know it."
🤎"I want to learn you, Harper. And you learn me. I want to know every door to unlock to unleash a heightened experience that neither of us will forget. Where you go, I will follow."

“Sometimes even the greatest love has to end so your destiny can begin.”

After experiencing heartbreak and loss, Harper and Dresden believed their chances of finding love again were slim. However, a chance encountered led them to release their grip on the past and embrace a future filled with hope and love together.

Robbie Renee delivers such beautiful Black love that tugs at the heartstrings. Watching Harper and Dresden work through their challenges and embrace their new relationship was so enjoyable. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves love.

If I had to capture the essence of this book in a song, it would be Sumthin’ Sumthin’ by Maxwell—smooth, grown, and undeniably sexy, with a rhythm that flows like a perfect slow burn. The romance between Harper (FMC) and Dresden (MMC) is a gorgeous, unfolding dance of angst and desire, a testament to Renee's skill in crafting love stories layered with grief, healing, and the beauty of deep connections—whether in family, friendships, or romance.
The pacing was just right, especially in the beginning and middle. However, the ending felt a little rushed. The last chapter almost felt like a blend of a conclusion and epilogue rolled into one, leaving me wishing for just a little more time with these characters.

3.5 Stars

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

Grief is a thief that steals from anyone. Let me be honest when I went into this book I just knew there was going to be drama and scandal. What I did not expect was to be up at 3 am crying my eyes out while still trying to process my own loss. Robbie Renee did such an amazing job with Dresden and Harper, what had me crying is the healthy healing both MC were able to experience, Not everyone get's this experience when it comes to grief and to be able to love again.

I could not put this book down! Its a beautiful story about finding love after loss and learning to open your heart to love again. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this book.

“Somebody’s Husband” by Robbi Renee is a touching story about love, loss, and starting over. It centers on Dr. Dresden Xavier and Professor Harper Kingsley, who meet as colleagues working together on a clinical trial that Dresden is leading. They both have experienced loss and grief, but despite their fears and hesitations, their undeniable chemistry pulls them together.

I loved the book’s message that even after your greatest loss, a second chance is always possible. I also loved how both Dresden’s and Harper’s families and friends played crucial roles in supporting them through their difficult moments and encouraging their healing process.

I have to add that Dr. Dresden Xavier is THAT dude. He was so genuine, caring and considerate. He was open to doing whatever he needed to do to make space for Harper in his life. Harper finally got a partner who listened to her and prioritized her needs.

Thank you to Black Odyssey Media and NetGalley for providing the ARC. “Somebody’s Husband” will be released Dec. 24.

This is an ARC review. Was my first time reading Robbi Renee. I loved the book. Won’t lie I hated Terrence, for a time but I understood him and his actions. The family dynamics in this book made the book and plot amazing. To read that love story!!! The side characters were a bit too much especially the kids but it worked.
I rarely read third person but I loved this. I read it in one sitting .
One or two grammatical errors but absolutely an amazing piece of art. Thank you for the opportunity NetGallery.

5 ☆
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Heart shattering warmly beautiful book! Ok so at first I wasn't going to read this book because of the type itself, "Somebody's Husband," just didn't sit right with me, but once I read the description it explained everything and this is not a story about infidelity, but of second chance romance. This story will definitely take you on a wild ride of emotions in the worst and best way possible! My own problem is it something had to many POV's and I would get a little confused on who was talking, but other then that. Highly recommend!
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬
•Black Romance
•Second-Chance
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Thank you, Netgalley, and Black Odyssey Media for the eBook in exchange for my honest review.