Thank you #Netgalley for the advanced read!

Emma is a pediatric heart surgeon trying to move on after her recent separation from her cheating husband. Her husband had multiple affairs with others throughout the hospital. Emma leans on her four sisters to help guide her through the singe life and dating. All while helping her two daughters cope with their fathers new girlfriend.


I had read "Has Anyone Seen My Sex Life" and i did not realize the two books were intertwined until Emma went to visit Meg. Then I really enjoyed the connecting the two novels! I want more books following the 4 sisters :)

i was given this ARC by netgalley and publisher for honest review and opinion
fun, cute read! great book about a woman whose husband is the worst that finds fun and comedy in a bad situation

I would say that there are two levels you could enjoy this book on. One, the outrageously funny conversations and shenanigans that the Callaghan sisters get up to. Two, and at a deeper level, it’s the struggle of a smart, accomplished woman still trying to shake off the hurt caused her by a callous, serial cheater of a husband. How, Emma makes her way out of the maze of pain and into the light of healing and love makes a delightfully funny, yet sensitive read.

I fell in love with all of the 5 sisters, but Emma is the sweetest, kindest soul. I could identify with her poor self image, made worse by a broken heart. Yet, despite it all, she’s fiercely loyal to her sisters, would do anything for her children and is even forgiving and kind to Simon, her ex, who never seems to learn.

I also fell in love with Kristen Bailey’s writing. It takes a lot of talent to write a book that’s so funny, yet so sensitive, and deals with real life issues that a lot of people are facing. Divorce and its fallout – custody arrangements, trying to make sure that the children continue to respect the other parent, even while you have little regard for them; children having new siblings. And above all, trying to find love again.

If you want a great laugh and also want a book that tugs at your heartstrings, I’d absolutely recommend Can I Give My Husband Back?

Fun fun fun! Kristen Bailey brightened my day with this laugh out loud story packed with wit and authenticity. No sugarcoating Here, this was a humorous look at real people with real problems. This is the story of Emma, mother to two little girls Iris and Violet. Emma has recently left her philandering, no good, arrogant husband Simon. Simon was really one of the most despicable men I’ve read about in a long time and that’s saying something because I read a lot of thrillers full of slimy bastards. Emma was so likable and relatable, this probably made Simon look even worse. Their two young daughters Iris and Violet were adorable, love their curiosity as they tried to figure out what was going on with the adults around them. The highlight of the book really was Emma‘s relationship with her four sisters, especially youngest sister Lucy who is currently living with her. Lucy’s antics made me laugh more than once, especially when she was competing in a princess Elsa- Frozen contest. Emma meets a new man in the book and the romance was sweet but understated, and I appreciated that. This was an entertaining real occasionally vulgar look at the not so pretty side of life. I am definitely looking forward to more stories to come involving these sisters.

This book in emojis 👩‍👧‍👧 🧾 🩺 🧜🏻‍♀️ 🧸

*** Big thank you to Bookouture for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***

Let me start by saying I think the blurb for this book is very misleading, I really liked the novel but it is not what I expected from the blurb.

Emma is a pediatric heart surgeon and mother living in a fabulous house in a desirable area of London. Her ex-husband is also a surgeon and a lying, cheating waste of skin. After mourning the death of her marriage (the finale of which is shared via flashback throughout the book), Emma is finally willing to dip a little toe into the dating pool.

This is the second novel about the Callaghan sisters but it is perfectly possible to read it as a standalone novel (as I did).

Emma is in the tricky situation of trying to be the reasonable parent, career woman, caring sister and interesting date. Added to which she is dealing with the baggage of modern families eg interfering parents, dealing with the ex-in-laws, dealing with your ex-husband's new girlfriend, dealing with your sister's relationship issues and, of course an Elsa from Frozen competition.

Loved it!

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

What a great book! I was cracking up within the first few pages. Truly hilarious! Two words: kitchen shears.

It was SO REFRESHING to read a book where grown ass adults are looking for love. Teenage romance gets to be obnoxious after a while.

Not only was this a story about rebuilding after divorce, we get to see how important the bond between siblings is as well. Bailey also speaks of the difficulties of co-parenting. How can you be the bigger person when you hate your ex-husband’s guts? This touched my heart in many ways and I will definitely pick up other books by this author.

Ao funny! Like seriously amazingly hilarious. This is exactly the tone I wanted to go through the emotions I did. I found this shockingly relatable having my own first marriage devolved after ten years from similar reasons. This book Was wonderful I would recommend it to all my friends!

Favorite Quotes:

“I could be kidnapped and killed for my body parts. Look after my girls. Make sure Si doesn’t ruin them.” “Two things: Don’t mention that man’s name to me. And you’re too old to be kidnapped. Your organs would be a hard sell.”

She looks like the eighties ate her up and spat her back out again. That’s some slick hair and a strong shoulder. She stands on my doorstep expecting to be invited in; I’m pretty sure that’s what you traditionally have to do with vampires.

‘I also don’t eat blueberries, for future information,’ I carry on. ‘But blueberries are delicious?’ ‘My sister once told me they are Smurf testicles so I can’t bring myself to eat them now.’

He normally wears glasses but Meera didn’t want them in her photos so forced him to wear contact lenses for the first time. So the poor boy’s eyes are bulging like his pants are too tight.

… she told the thirty-odd people present that she was glad she didn’t marry me because I’m very hairy and she didn’t want my furball babies.

My Review:

This was a wicked funny tale laced with all varieties of humor from acerbic snark to highly comical events and everything in between. I haven’t had this much fun giggle-snorting into my Moscato in ages. While there were also parts of the storylines that were quite tragic as the loathsome husband was an unrepentant serial adulterer, the writing sparked with clever wit and wry humor. I was frequently smirking and a few times nearly apoplectic with laughter.

Being more prone toward the Lorena Bobbitt methodology for dealing with such issues, I was occasionally impatient and annoyed with the main character’s spineless inability to face her husband’s blatant and repeated infidelities as well as her overly forgiving nature once she finally did so, I still appreciated her journey and reveled in the manner her sisters and friends were shoring her up which enabled her to retrieve her own identity and sense of worth. Every single character was riotously amusing with my favorite being the fierce and mischievously salacious younger sister Lucy, whom I hope to see featured in her very own book soon with more Frozen Fiesta Fracas adventures.

This book had me laughing out loud! I loved each of the Callaghan sisters and the element of humour they brought to the book... makes me wish I had sisters like them.

And being the same age as Emma, I did get an education as well!

I’ll be looking for more Kristen Bailey books.

When I started reading, I wasn't aware this is one of a series of books about the Callaghan sisters and so don't have the experience of having read the previous story. But it still holds up pretty well without having the feel of backtracking too much as I notice in some similar series books.

I found this to be quite an enjoyable read. We have Emma, who is a heart surgeon, and still in recovery from her divorce. The story tracks a lot of the ups and downs of going through this tumultuous time of life with a bit of humor added in. I wouldn't call is hilarious but I did find it amusing and enjoyable through out.

Overall, I give it 3.5 stars.

I'd like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for sharing an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I literally could not put this book down...though I admit it did slip out of my hands several times while I was bent over laughing. A memorable laugh-out-loud story about the misery of divorce and starting over. 

Dr. Emma Callaghan is a mother of two, a pediatric heart surgeon, the second of five sisters, and divorced from the worst serial cheater ever aptly nicknamed See You Next Tuesday.  Dealing with elite school functions, young patients, and her determined sisters is more than a full-time job. So how do her sisters think she has time to date. She's out of practice and her heart is still broken. 

I love Emma's calm and caring nature with a wonderful sense of humor. She is a fantastic mother, a supportive sister, an amazing doctor, and a freakin' saint when it comes to her ex, Simon. I respect her for not bad-mouthing her ex in front of her children, but seriously, that man needs to be drawn and quartered.  He's a total douchebag and I cursed at him many times in the book.  I laughed even more throughout the book; especially the hysterical body hair scene and the uproarious Frozen contest. Speaking of which, Emma's youngest sister Lucy is a hoot. Her snarky jibes at Simon are spot on and her dating advice is priceless.  I want to bottle her up and keep her forever! 

I can't recommend this book enough! It is a wonderful multi-faceted story filled with colorful characters, incredibly funny monologue, and deeply moving moments of clarity and acceptance. Apparently, this is book 2 of a series and I plan to pick up the first one soon. No doubt, this book is going on my list of favorites for 2020.

Thank you to Ms. Bailey for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.

Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and Kristen Bailey for gifting me an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
If you’re on the hunt for your next laugh-out-loud poolside book, look no further. Personally my pool is a blow up on a back porch but I escaped into this book and forgot that pretty quickly! This was my first book by this author and I was glad to see it’s actually the second in a series. Each book revolves around a different sister. With six sisters of my own, this story hit a little closer to home. This book isn’t the most relatable to me personally since i’ve never been married and i’m only a cat mother, but I still felt myself rooting for the Callaghan sisters. Now I need to go back and read ‘Have You Seen My Sex Life?’ to get the full story and because i’ve heard nothing by amazing things! Kristen bailey’s books are on my radar now for sure!

Emma is a successful heart surgeon with two girl and recently divorced from Simon AKA Satan to her loving sisters. When you wrong one sister the rest take up your cause and will enjoy reviling the man you once loved. They will also encourage you to take a dip in the huge ocean of other fish in the sea to try to catch another nibble. Poor Emma she wants to move on with her new life and it seems her cheating husband has done just that too when she finds out about his new girlfriend from their daughters. How do you start again on the dating scene after so long ? Tinder ? Dating websites or have friends set you up. It’s all so new and scary to her but she is determined to give it a whirl and boy does she ever. She can fix broken hearts with her skills yet fixing her own will prove a more difficult, fun, exhilarating task.

OMG where do i start with this laugh out loud , ooops moment of a book. Any woman newly single or at the ready to mingle stage of her life will find this book a refreshingly hilarious take on the dating scene. They will also wish for such annoying, overbearing, protective , funny sisters as she has. The family dynamics in the book provide a cocoon of love to Emma yet its one that also wants her to stand on her own feet and stand up for herself. We all know our families want the best for us but sometimes the lengths they go to can be either too much or too little this book strikes the right balance between the sisters. This gives it a cosy feel wrapped up in a huge blanket of mirth. I sat giggling to myself in parts and when i read a particular scene involving a pair of scissors, Emma and her sisters well i just lost it, much to the amusement of my OH. When you get to the part and you will know it when you do then what I’ve written will make perfect sense. The book is also about the empowerment of Emma , the further away from the divorce she is the more she takes back the reins of her life taking the path that she herself wants to take. So if you want a laugh out loud, uplifting, make your day better sort of book then grab this one.

Thank you to bookouture for my copy of this book via netgalley and for letting me take part in this tour. At the beginning of the year I read Kristen's first book Has Anyone Seen My Sex Life? and I loved it. I have been recommending it to everyone. So when I saw Kristen had a second book I absolutely HAD to read it.

In this book, we see Emma as she is trying to work out life as a divorcee. Emma left her husband around 2 years ago. Emma's husband is a grade-A shit! I mean GRADE A! When you think that man can't get any worse he pulls another one out the hat. Emma somehow manages to survive it all. I liked Emma. She is smart, funny and hella strong! She is also a bit of a mother hen to her sisters. She is the second oldest but she rallies round her sisters.

There is some romance in this book but it's not really the main focus. The story is about Emma and how she is finding herself again. Being that strong confident person she can be. There are also lots of funny moments. Kristen writes extremely funny books. I love her writing style. It's very easy to read and constantly had me giggling and laughing to myself.

I didn't realise at first that Emma is Meg's sister. Meg was the main character in Has Anyone Seen My Sex Life? You don't need to have read Has Anyone Seen My Sex Life? as both books are set around the same time but I would highly recommend reading both. There are 3 more Callaghan sisters Beth, Grace and Lucy. I desperately hope that Kristen is going to write books for the others. I feel there are many stories there and I really want to hear them.

I didn't realise until after I had requested this book from Netgalley that there is another book 'before' it although it isn't exactly a series. The main characters of each book are sisters - they are a fierce bunch and I was going to say I pity any man marrying into the family, but the way Simon Chadwick has treated Emma soon put paid to any sympathy.

We are introduced to Emma as she tries out the world of internet dating, guided by the more worldly of her sisters, Lucy. The text exchange we are privy to is hilarious but sadly the date is little short of a disaster, leaving Emma wondering whether she really is ready to return to the search for a partner.
Luckily for her, a close work colleague has other ideas and sets her up with someone she believes would be a good match, an anaesthetist named Jag.

Alongside Emma's search for a love life, we also get the story of her ex husband and serial philanderer Simon. He really is unbelievably arrogant and the perfect representation of a sleazeball. Most people who have been through the process of divorce will be able to relate to the 'game' that he is playing and will love the scenes when karma comes calling to make him face his misdemeanours. His true colours are well and truly on display for all to see and this time there is no veneer of sleaze he can hide behind. He gets to feel the wrath of the Callaghan women good and proper and even his own mother questions his morals.

The sisters personalities are extremely diverse and perfectly drawn - I would love to have a cohort of loving siblings like these in my life. The storyline is relatable and its ups and downs will have you crying with laughter, feeling all warm and fuzzy with affection or angry enough to join Lucy in her personal crusade against Simon.

A fun look at the world of divorce and how to make a new life in the world of singledom.

I absolutely loved this book. Every crazy, hilarious, and devastating moment of it. Maybe it is because I come from a family of 6 girls, the writing was authentic, real and while the author gave us a HEA for now, I was so happy to see the main character change so much for the better during the course of the book.

I think Bailey wrote a balanced novel about the complications of relationships, divorce, and sisterhood. She even managed to make Simon into not a complete jerk. Even though at times, throttling him wouldn't be enough. Her relationship with Jag was great. Awkward and real. It was great to see a romance between an "older" woman and a younger man. (she wasn't THAT much older but her life experiences definitely complicated her dating life with Jag)

The only negative about this book is I hadn't read the first book, so I felt the ending was a little too untidy, even for a Rom Com. But now I will have to go back and see if the book about Meg tells us something about what happened with our main character in Can I Give My Husband Back.

If you are looking for a fun, fast, summer read this is a perfect pick.

I would recommend this book to anyone, but particularly to anyone going through or has gone through a divorce. I very much related to Emma. And this book was a bit of fantasy therapy. Emma was able to triumph in a way only fiction can give. She finally faced that she’d been pretending her marriage was fine and normal, that she wasn’t being disregarded and discarded in private, while expected to hold up the public image of a perfect family. Kristen Bailey created a world of wonderful characters, but Emma stands out. The story takes you on Emma’s journey from scared, confused and newly divorced to strong, determined to live an authentic life and standing up for herself and her daughter’s needs.

And this story is hilarious. From the chapter titles to the baby throwing up on Emma at a wedding, every heartfelt or emotional moment is matched by the real life humor of the characters, or the insane situations they find themselves in.

Five stars, absolutely.

Kristen Bailey is the QUEEN of the laugh out loud romantic comedies. Her one liners are absolutely brilliant and whilst many books may claim to have you howling with laughter, I can guarantee this author will have you doing just that. I’m so glad I discovered her writing and if you’ve already had the pleasure of reading ‘Has anyone seen my sex life’ then you won’t be disappointed with her latest book. If you haven’t then what are you waiting for? Both books are perfect feel good, unputdownable reads with a cast of wonderfully colourful characters that will brighten your day.
In Can I Give My Husband Back the reader is reunited with the madcap Callaghan sisters (there are five of them) but on this occasion it is heart surgeon Emma and her vile ex husband Simon who take centre stage. Simon is a character you will love to hate. I’d liken him to a pantomime villain who the audience love to hiss and boo at given every opportunity as that’s what I was mentally doing! He certainly made my hackles rise but in true Callaghan sister style there is always someone ready to take him down a peg or two. The spotlight is well and truly on Emma as she navigates her way through life with daughters Iris and Violet post divorce, with her sisters urging her back into the dating scene, naturally with hilarious results. Just like Meg and Danny’s children, these two girls are utterly adorable and I loved their innocence and acceptance of their new family circumstances.
Emma is quite frankly a saint in managing not to kill her lying, cheating waste of space ex and even when more and more of his lies are exposed, she carries on choosing to confront everything that is thrown at her with a smile and her trademark wit. It’s madness and mayhem in her household as possible new love interest Jag will find out and I relished every minute of their side splitting capers.
I am assuming (and hoping!) this won’t be the last we hear of the Callaghan sisters. If there is a third book in the making I would absolutely love Lucy to take centre stage since she’s incapable of not stealing the limelight. Honestly, her antics will have you laughing until your belly aches since she’s the most outrageous of them all. It’s true to say you wouldn’t want to mess with any of these women but Lucy takes her loyalty to her sisters VERY seriously. Her cutting, sarcastic and totally inappropriate comments aimed at Simon are exactly what he deserves but you know beneath the offensive language lies a heart bursting with love for her siblings and growing entourage of nieces and nephews. In imagining the Callaghan sisters, the author has created first class characters, all of whom tackle life’s ups and downs with their unique style of warmth and humour, even if on occasion they do fall out. Their family is one that I’d be delighted to be part of. It’s the warm, big hearted, sometimes touching,full of love and laughter style of writing that makes this book yet another winner.
This would make THE perfect gift for any book lover in dire need of cheering up. In fact I waxed lyrical so much over her previous novel that a good friend who rarely reads went out and bought a copy!! I intend to spread the word with this book too as I can’t sing this author’s praises highly enough. My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read.

Emma is a heart surgeon and is divorcing her husband, Simon. who is also a surgeon. A cocky man, he has had one affair too many. They are the parents of two girls, Iris, 7 and Violet 5. Emma has 4 sisters and her sister, Lucy, is currently helping her with the girls.

Lucy is doing all she can to get Emma to date some men but she feels like it has been so long since she dated, she doesn’t know where to start.

We see how compassionate Emma is with people. Her medical knowledge is great and it’s so funny when some people ask her inapprpriate medical questions when she's at a social event. What a hoot!

The sisters all join together as one big family to support one another. They are very close and would defend one another to the death.

Lucy is funny but does some wild things. I liked Emma and felt she is a strong character but she showed that she’s also human. My favorite character is Lewis. What a little love he is! This book shows how difficult divorce can be especially if one is a total jerk like Simon. The sisterly love is cute but I wonder if all sisters are as open with one another. All in all, this is a good book with lots of laugh out loud humor. In addition, there are some serious things as well to balance it out. Check it out and enjoy!

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

“Can I Give My Husband Back” by Kristen Bailey

Sorbet.

I’ll just leave that word hanging there for a moment.

My reading diet consists mainly - but, not exclusively - of thrillers, crime thrillers and each new Stephen King as soon as it is published. Into this menu, you can add historical fiction, history books and true crime tales. Of the fifteen books I have read thus far in 2020, six have been books about real-life historical events and a further two have been retellings of the Greek legends by the English legend that is Stephen Fry.

Add to these a comic tale from an English comedian, a wonderful book by an upcoming British Asian writer and the joyous read that is “The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse”.

Despite my fondness for the aforementioned genres, I try to mix up the books I read occasionally - increasingly often in fact - especially in these times. I find it can be rewarding to freshen up my choice of reading with a title that goes against my usual fare. Which leads me back to that single word at the start of my review.

Sorbet.

Sometimes you need the tang that only comes with a mouthful of the delicious fruity sugary-sweet frozen dessert. That unexpectedly expected hit of sweetness and zest gives you a start, makes you smile and refreshes you. It leaves you energised, invigorated and, often, happy.

And that, dear reader, is exactly what “Can I Give My Husband Back?” did for me.

Kristen Bailey first came to my attention at the start of this year. I forget exactly how I heard of her previous book, “Has Anyone Seen My Sex Life?”. It was most likely excited chatter via Twitter and, with its vibrantly coloured cover and its intriguing title, I knew I had to dip my toes into her world.

And, as with that hit of sorbet, I’m so pleased I took a taste.

So much so, that when I saw Kristen had a second book coming out, I jumped at the opportunity to explore her work again.

When I first picked up this book, I didn’t realise that it continued the Callaghan sisters stories. But I am so glad that it does. It was a delight to have the chance to reacquaint myself with the five sisters from the first book. They are an absorbing quintet, each with her own personality - personalities that leap from the pages - and pull you happily along with the narrative. Each sister brings a different dynamic and vibe to what I now know will be a series of at least five books; maybe more if Ma and Pa Callaghan get their own outings.

This particular outing tells the tale of Emma Callaghan - the second oldest sibling (“HASMSL” concerned the oldest sister, Meg) as Emma copes with the aftermath of her husband Simon’s infidelities and their subsequent divorce and relationship in caring for their two daughters.

While I cannot say I believe this book is aimed specifically at readers like myself - a married man of thirty plus years (to the same woman, yes, she’s a saint) - I simply loved it.

The author writes engaging characters, full of life and zest, complete with their flaws, foibles, fears and frustrations. She breathes life into them and into their relationships and actions. And, she has a great way with dialogue, when the girls speak, their words sparkle and snap.

You’d be wrong for thinking that this would be a hard read about bitterness and divorce, such an emotive and terrible time in someone’s life. Far from it, this book is an absolute blast; it’s tangy, zesty (that word again), fruity and, at many times, downright filthy. It is also very funny and, often, downright hilarious.

These Callaghan girls are no shy, retiring wallflowers; they are in your face, say it like it is, feisty and fun females. Modern, empowered, unwilling to let life - or the men in their lives (PS. We’re not all bad. Honest.) - derail them.

Personally, I cannot wait for the book in which the youngest sister (I hope I have my chronology correct) appears. I’m looking forward to Luce Cannon’s tale.

“Can I Give My Husband Back?” is a terrific read; it’s fun and entertaining, well written and so very enjoyable.

As I said earlier, it’s sorbet. Light and refreshing with a sharp kick.

The author’s writing puts a smile of your face. Her books are definitely moreish.

So, book three very soon, please, Ms Bailey.

I need my sorbet fix ASAP.