Y’all…. I tried to finish this book for so long. It just kept dragging. I got it as an ARC from NetGalley back in April and finished it in June, if that tells you anything.

The story follows newlyweds Natalie and Carl who tied the knot just six months after they started dating. Carl is fresh out of his divorce and met Natalie at her antique clock shop when he was buying his ex-wife a divorce present. Yeah… that should give you an idea of how this goes.

Carl has two children with his ex-wife and he and Natalie often spoke about moving closer to the children as they lived in the city and the children lived in the countryside with their mom. The idea to move was Natalie’s, but she soon found herself eating her words when Carl purchased the house down the road at an auction. To say the house needed a lot of work is an understatement. They basically had to gut it and re-do the whole thing, all under the watchful eye of Antonia, Carl’s ex-wife who so graciously kept referring to him as “our husband.”

Antonia is the definition of luxury, from her home to her cars to her wardrobe. She is all about looking the part, especially whenever she’s around Natalie which happens to be all the time. Anywhere Natalie goes, it’s like Antonia pops up to make her feel less-than in some way or another. Almost as if it’s her personal mission… But I digress.

I think part of the reason why I struggled with this book so much is because I didn’t connect with any of the characters. Honestly, I found everyone to be annoying. Antonia, for the obvious reasons. Carl, because he was never around and always making decisions for Natalie as if she were a child, but then getting frustrated with her when she tries to put her foot down or ask questions. Mostly though, I was frustrated with Natalie. She allowed herself to be treated so poorly by everybody. I had hoped she would at least leave Carl at the end. Found her self worth and walked away from him and his disappearing act that was always followed by a string of apologies. But no. That never happened. This one has a “happily ever after,” if you can even call it that.

I really wanted to like this book. I was hoping that it would surprise me somewhere along the way, like The Audacity of Sara Grayson did. But unfortunately, it didn’t. I’m probably not the intended audience for this book and that’s why none of it resonated with me. But personally, I wasn’t a fan. I give it 2 stars, and that’s being generous, only because Natalie managed to form some semblance of a backbone by the end.

A Second-Hand Husband is a hilarious book about living in a blended family. I absolutely loved this book. It is told from Natalie's point of view as she deals with moving to a town where her husband's ex-wife is the Queen Bee. The book is very funny and I did not want it to end.

Once upon a time, two people fell madly in love…
...until, they weren’t.

They divorced, shared time with the kids, and found their new someone’s…
...only their connection was more like a competition to out do their replacement, causing much strain for some parties, and exasperation for others. Is the love they’ve found enough to see them through? Or is it better to call it quits while still ahead?




Honestly, I don’t know how she did it. There are SO MANY reasons I would have said kiss my patooty and drove off into the sunset, I simply stopped counting. I guess it’s as the saying goes, love is blind...although, in this case, only just. Natalie does eventually stand her ground, albeit long after the blind house buy, work shenanigans, and manly shows of how manly he is between himself and his ex’s new “him”, but the point is...enough is enough for even her at some point! It wasn't even so much the first wife, although I admit, I wasn't a huge fan of her for most the story...read it, and you'll see why...and even the daughter's cold shoulder to Natalie was expected, or at least bearable; it was simply Carl. Yes, Natalie...you had a much kinder heart than I would have, but it made us feel for you all the more...and I loved how she kept trying with those around her, both to understand where they were coming from as well as to make them feel welcome even if the same wasn't returned.

So, if you’re looking for a story filled with swoon worthy courting, and marital bliss that leads to a happy ever after...wrong book! BUT...if you’re looking for a story with real people from every day life, seizing the day while still learning from their yesterday’s...this might just me the tale for you.

This book was different than what I expected. I thought it would a romcom about the trials and of a newlywed couple. It is about that, but it's not a romcom. Because I had this expectation of lighthearted romantic misshaps, I struggled through the first half of the book. However, the author does a very good job of delving into all the horrible ways we miscommunicate and let insecurities cloud our heads. Once I realized that was the driving premise of the book, I was interested in seeing how it unfolded. The second half of the book was more rewarding because it revealed the characters' human complexity: we knew they were imperfect, now let's see why. I'm glad I stuck with it.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Rachel at Random Resources Tours for my invitation to the tour and to Boldwood Books for my copy of the e book, in return for a fair and honest review.

Natalie is just enjoying a relaxing bath when her husband of twenty seven days, calls her to say he has found their dream house. Natalie is excited but when Carl tells her he is buying it now, at auction understandably she is very nervous.

She goes with it and when she arrives to view the village she has romantic ideas of how their new life will be. Then she goes to the house……

I didn’t really take to Carl at the start I thought he came over as very slick and bossy. Natalie seems to have been won over by this charm. In fact she thinks she has all the flaws and he is perfect. Then we meet Dom and Antonia, Carl’s ex wife and her husband who live in a perfect home practically next door. It started to become much clearer. This book is really funny and very astute I really enjoyed the close look at the relationships of the characters.

I really felt for Natalie she is warm and very insecure and when she gets invited to Antonia’s pool party I really felt for her. The women there are so unlike her and spend their days being beautified and lunching. Unlike Natalie who has her own shop and home. There is also Saskia and Max who are Carl’s children and Natalie is trying to navigate the difficult job of a step parent.

This is a great romantic comedy with quite a lot of drama and up’s and downs too.

Engaging, Enjoyable and Entertaining ! I loved it.

4.5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5

Such a lovely read - Natalie is married to Carl, and head over heels in love, looking to build their happy ever after with a house in the country. And looking forward to house hunting together - until Carl texts from an auction to say he has bought a house. Not just any house - this one is a 5 minute walk from his glamorous ex wife and children. Natalie, who is the nicest, most patient person imaginable is naturally rather hurt, and her imagination goes into overdrive, especially when she meets the ex-wife. A lot of clliches, with constant misunderstanding, but full of laughs and tender moments, this book was a pleasure to read. The story of Natalie's dad seemed a bit of a bolt on and I'm not sure it added much. My main concern was trying to envisage a garden "pond" big enough to swim in!! #netgalley #asecondhandhusband

This is the story of Carl and Natalie, whose story involves some ups as well as downs. The story is told over 45 Chapters, which seem to fly by when you read it. One minute you are on Chapter 10 then the next time you look you have read 8 or more chapters.
Now from the very beginning of this story it is intriguing and captivates the reader. Part of the intriguing factor can be put down to the very different characters that appear throughout this story. Take Carl and Natalie, these two are quite opposite in their personalities causing their interactions to be absolutely captivating.
The character interactions throughout the book are relatable as well as funny. Whether Natalie is talking to her Sister, her husband or even the ex-wife. All these interactions grip the reader and makes them more intrigued in the story. Readers start to question how things will end up but also how Natalie will solve her issues.
One of the great things about this book is that not everything is shown as perfect. Not the conversations, not the relationships and not the dream house. These moments when true reality is seen makes the book more relatable. Which just means that readers emotions will get involved as they can picture themselves as Natalie.
Overall this book is well written and keeps readers on there toes. Though tissues at the ready as readers will either be sad crying, happy crying or crying with laughter. All of which leave you with the urge to find other works by the Author.

Natalie and Carl are still in their honeymoon period - literally.  After a whirlwind romance they're happy and looking for their dream home.  But when Carl phones to tell Nat he's found THE house and bought it at auction....then hangs up, Nat is beside herself.  She has no idea where it is or what it looks like - and what about all the plans they had of finding it together?!

Little does she know that the house is literally down the road from Carl's ex-wife Antonia, and his kids.  She knows she'll have to deal with it - living by the kids WAS her idea after all, but with Antonia being queen of the village, glamorous and adored by all, Nat wonders if she'll ever fit in.  And the more time she spends in the village and at their cottage, the more she doubts things.....but will her marriage to Carl survive? And will she ever find her place in the village?

I thoroughly enjoyed this.  Nat is such a warm and wonderful character with a heart of gold but crippling self-consciousness.  She doesn't believe in herself at all and despite the fact that runs her own business and is successful, has a really low opinion of herself.   And her Husband Carl really doesn't help the situation!  He, on the other hand, is not loving and warm and doesn't really have a particular excuse for it.  Despite the fact that Nat has been through some stuff when she was younger, she's still truly lovely.  All the way through I just wanted her to see how fantastic she really was, and it's lovely to watch her grow.  Carl...well I just wanted to give him a proper boot up the bum sometimes!  And his ex-wife Antonia.....well she's not particularly likeable to start with.  I'm not sure I could put up with her, especially with the things she comes out with! However, we do get to learn a bit more about her later on, and I'll let you make up your own minds on whether your feelings change!

I love the setting. The author does a brilliant job of bringing everything to life.  The little ramshackle cottage and the refurbishments as they take place, the duck pond in the garden, Antonia's amazingly wonderful and modern house, and the lovely little village.  I also loved that it was set in Kent and was delighted to learn that the little village is loosely based upon a village 10 minutes up the road from my house!

I really enjoyed the storyline and can actually see something like this happening in real life (although I'd like to think any real life Nat would stamp the behaviour out before it got going!).  Parts of this had me laughing, others I just felt for Nat so much, and then at other times I was fuming!

So if you're looking for a brilliant, heart warming story that will get your emotions going, make you chuckle, give you a loveable protagonist and a gorgeous setting, then this is for you.  Highly recommended by me.  I'm looking forward to reading more from Claire in the future.

magine living near your husbands ex-wife… would you always end up feeling like the other woman?.

Natalie and Carl got married after six months of being together, and are looking to move to the countryside so they can be closer to Carl’s ex-wife and his two children. Natalie understands this completely, but when Carl announces he has found the perfect place for them, and he has already purchased it without discussing it with her first, her life is about to change in more ways than she could begin to imagine.

When Natalie meets Antonia – the ex-wife, she knows this move is going to be far from straightforward. Antonia seems to have made it her personal mission to ensure that Natalie is made to feel like second choice, and second best in every sense. As Natalie struggles to fit in to the new life that she has been thrust in to by her new husband, she starts to wonder whether she will ever be more than the second wife.

This was a story full of humour and heartache, and as the characters learn to adjust to their new lives we get to learn more about them as individuals along the way. Carl is a character that I felt quite a strong dislike towards from the start, he seems completely unable – and unwilling – to consider Natalie’s feelings and continues to make life changing decisions without talking to her about them first. This did feel rather fitting though, and didn’t take away any enjoyment from the story as a whole. Natalie is a character I warmed to throughout, but I did find her reluctance to speak up for herself utterly infuriating at times, but that also plays in to the overall theme of the story.

The book is well written and flows wonderfully from beginning to end. With a mix of humour and emotionally charged moment, this is a book I am sure others will thoroughly enjoy.

Favorite Quotes:

‘That’s so old!’ Her face looks completely horrified, as if I have borrowed a frock from Miss Havisham and it’s covered in cobwebs.

There aren’t any family heirlooms because our family never owned anything significant to hand down to the next generation, other than a predisposition to bowel cancer and bad colds.

And – by the way, it is not OK for you to talk to me like that. You’re not my boss, and if you were my boss and spoke to me like that, I’d be taking you to an industrial tribunal. Be angry if you want to be, but there’s no excuse to talk to me as if I’m a bit of dogshit on your shoe. Do it again and I will be out the door in two seconds and heading for the M20 in my van – and you know I mean it. Do you hear me?


My Review:

My first Claire Calman experience and I am enamored with her delightfully clever wit, which was often the delivery system for keenly observant insights as well as a day of pleasant entertainment. Her character development and wordcraft were stellar and kept me invested and engaged as I alternated between smirking, giggle-snorting, and chewing my cuticles. The spiky secondary characters were as actively involved and germane to the various story threads and more amusingly drawn than the featured couple.

I was ever hopeful the main character of Natalie would eventually locate her spine while I gleefully enjoyed her inner dialog along her route to tracking it down. I wasn’t sure I could get on board with her hasty choice of second-hand husband as Carl showed sparks of promise but he was often a thoughtless asshat who deserved a few swift applications of my crocs to his posterior to dislodge his lost cranium. I had faith the author would get them there and my trust was not ill-placed.

I have a new author to add to my Favorites list and Ms. Calman has a new fangirl as I added her entire Goodreads listing to my TBR shortly after finishing this one.

Thank you NetGalley, author Claire Calman, and Boldwood Books publishing for giving me a free arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
3 stars
What would it be like to live near your husband's ex? Would you always be the other woman?
This book had my feelings all over the place, but especially towards the characters.
Natalie and Carl have married after just six months of courting. They are looking for a new home in the countryside, in order to be closer to where his ex-wife and two children live. Low and behold, Carl has found the perfect place and decided to bid on the house at a auction without even letting Natalie seeing it first. After Carl has purchased the house, he phones Natalie with the good news. Natalie is less than excited. Wat does it look like? Where is it? These questions and more are whirling in Natalie's mind as she and her husband look over their new home.
These characters had me shaking me head at times over how shallow and insecure they all were throughout this book. Carl made me so angry. He was always making decisions without consulting Natalie and then would shut down and refuse to talk with her about the real issues. Natalie's insecurities were understandable, but a little over the top. The common theme for her insecurities seemed to stem from the way Carl's ex and her children treated Natalie. I would have liked to see Carl support Natalie in front of his ex and children. I did enjoy the growth the characters underwent toward the end of the story. I especially liked the connections that were made between Natalie and Carl's children. Overall, this book was worth the read as frustrating as some of the characters might have been. This was my first book by this author and it will not be my last!

This women's fiction was a tense one. I felt the MC's feelings throughout the book. It's a really good story but one that brings out all the feelings. This was a unique story that will stick with me for quite some time, in the very best way.

I think this is the first time I have read a book hoping that a meteor would strike down, killing off all the characters instantly. (Spoiler alert: this does not happen.) In fact, there’s no natural tragedy that would ensure the characters would be wiped off the face of the novel so that the story could restart.

As you may have guessed, I did not like the characters. They frustrated me and I felt aggressively angry towards Carl. He is a horrible man who bullies, patronises and belittles Natalie to the point that, if it was me, that man would not be able to stand upright! My skin would crawl as I read scenes where he puts Natalie down so much – a woman who’s self-esteem is next to nothing already. Carl was not a tragic hero whom you could sympathise with, even when the writer provides more background to Carl’s upbringing and family dynamics. No way could I feel sorry for him.

Natalie was achingly self-conscious and someone who desperately wants to fade in the background. I grew irritated with her desire to constantly please others around her – even if it was a contradiction to her own beliefs or behaviours. She allows Carl to walk all over her and justifies his behaviour throughout. In my opinion, this made a very toxic relationship and one that could easily be interpreted as rather sinister.

So, if I read the book hoping to see a slaughtering in a quaint Kent village, why did I carry on reading? Well, it was the village of Little Wyford that helped redeem the story. I loved the setting and did smile at the whole ‘Stepford Wives’ theme that Natalie notices of the women of the village. Although Carl’s ex-wife, Antonia, also belonged in the ‘character bin’, I thought Calman plays on the housewife stereotype really well. It demonstrated a stark contrast between Natalie’s independence versus a group of woman who appear spoiled, kept and selfish. It was this that I hoped would spark a change in Natalie’s accepting behaviour.

In addition, I was really interested to see Natalie’s renovations of the run-down cottage that she and Carl have bought. Natalie is making decisions independent of Carl and I loved reading the changes happening. Furthermore, the grounds it is in are described really vividly and I thought the duckpond-come-swimming pool was a great touch! I could really picture Natalie pottering around and creating a rather beautiful home for her and her horrid husband.

This helps provoke a change in Natalie as she evolves to become a stronger woman, mindful of her behaviour and determined to stick to her beliefs. I liked watching this change happen over the story and this was the other significant reason why I carried on reading. Whilst I did not get the ending I was hoping for, it was satisfying to see Natalie more of a dominant character and comfortable with her identity. So, I guess a happy ending… ish.

Overall, I was not very impressed with this story. It’s a shame I grew to dislike the characters so much because this naturally lessened my enjoyment of the novel. Throughout, I wanted Natalie to grow a backbone, get a grip and see the reality of being married to Carl. And, whilst no meteors fell from the sky, it was quite nice to see a book with such a lovely setting.

With thanks to Boldwood books, NetGalley and Rachel’s Random Resources for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Stick with the book, it gets better! I had a hard time at first because I thought the characters seemed shallow and very unlikeable. The main character is a little insecure but once the story gets rolling you get past those things and actually start to like some of them.

After a somewhat whirlwind courtship, Natalie and Carl have married and are looking for a new home in the countryside and nearer to where his ex-wife and two children live. What Natalie hadn’t anticipated was a phone call from Carl informing her that he’s found what they can make into the ideal home and he’s in an auction bidding for it….. She’s never seen it, doesn’t know where it is and the only positive is that it has a duck pond.

This kind of sets the tone for much of the story. Carl is inconsiderate, makes decisions without discussing the options and, to top it all, has bought that home in the same village where his ex-wife and children actually live. Initially I had to wonder just how he’d managed to get anyone to marry him! Needless to say, this is a story packed with family drama and plenty of laugh out loud moments. Many of the characters are initially decidedly not likeable and you have lots of examples of just why this romance is unlikely to stand the test of time unless Carl becomes less egocentric and Natalie starts to stand up for herself! As for his ex-wife and offspring . . . . together with the village where everyone knows all your business . . . . You’ll have to read it for yourself to discover just what happens and if love really can help them find a way together!

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for my copy of this book which I have voluntarily read and honestly reviewed.

A second hand husband is a light and enjoyable read about Natalie, definitely not known as Natty, who is married divorced dad of two, Carl. Natalie and Carl are seemingly incompatible . He is arrogant and makes decisions without telling her, most importantly buying a house she has never seen for them and Natalie is a antique clock dealer (great pun there in the title) who is lovely but feels in awe of her predecessor and mother of Carl’s children.

When the two move to the country from London Natalie gives up her home, her business and throws herself into life there while Carl is busy elsewhere with work and his sick father. Natalie meets Antonia, ex wife of Carl who seems to be making it her business to make poor Natalie feel very much second best as well as second wife.

There is some humour in this book as we discover the characters more and mean girl Antonia and her children thaw to become likeable and equally unsure of their place in Carl’s life. Carl himself is an unlikeable man. I have no idea how he managed to get anyone to marry him as he is so rude and insular. Clearly looks are more important as he and Natalie married within 6 months it appears she didn’t know him at all! Natalie and Antonia were well written foils, who at first seemed to have nothing in common and then more than they originally thought.

I particularly liked the setting of this book and the renovation of Rose Cottage was well described. The village setting sounded idyllic and the pond would be just the perfect place to spend time relaxing.

The other characters were incidental to the plot but played a part in making this an enjoyable read. I did, however, find the idea of Natalie’s sister and her husband’s brother getting together a bit uncomfortable!

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

It was hard to get into at first because of some of the characters but it was worth finishing because of how the characters developed and evolved. I found the writing to be witty and funny but it took awhile before I felt a connection with the characters.

Well I have to admit that this book wasn’t the romantic escape I was first expecting, but I actually really liked and respected that about it. It was refreshingly honest and steeped in realism about the complexities of relationships, extended families and work/life balance.

For every humorous or light-hearted moment in the book, there is also a more serious or dramatic one, and this gives the book a good balance.

I loved the characters in this book. Neither Carl nor Natalie come across as perfect, and they both go on a journey in which they learn the fallout of keeping secrets from one another. They both have their faults and their redeeming features. Carl is a hard-working, impulsive, dedicated man. Natalie is a creative, loving and self-conscious person. I loved that both these characters were developed and complex.

Overall, this has been a lovely book about the importance of friendship, communication, loyalty and learning to enjoy life. Second hand furniture and the idea of a “second hand” husband in the book serve as a reminder that nothing is perfect but when we understand its history, we can create something beautiful.

I would definitely recommend this book to fans of Camilla Isley, Judy Leigh and Shari Low. I look forward to reading more by this author.

A Second-Hand Husband was an enjoyable read with a great smaller cast of characters. Firstly, the title was a nice clever touch as the story follows the main character who is a second wife as she navigates her new role. As she is a second-hand antique clock dealer, it was a fun touch to set the tone for the overall story. Natalie’s new life is very relatable as it is a common occurrence in the world and it was lovely to read about her experience, especially as she suffers from many self-esteem issues. Even those who are very confident in themselves cannot help but compare themselves to others, so it was nice to see how Natalie navigated her new life as a second wife.

Natalie is a 36-year-old owner of her own antique clock shop in London. She found the love of her life after he was a customer in her shop and the two of them wed after less than 6 months together. Now the two of them are navigating married life with some complications as her husband, Carl, a man in his early 40s and is a PR manager, has been married before and his two children live with his ex-wife. Before I, as the reader, even met Carl, I had to wonder about his children that still make me wonder, as it is never explicitly discussed in the book. It could also be different in the UK, but I automatically wondered why the two children lived full time with their mother. Carl is close with his children, so it made me wonder if it was a decision by either parent, a joint decision, a legal decision when they divorced, or if it was a decision by the children (they are younger, but some places do let kids have a say). 27 days into married life, Carl surprises Natalie with a new house that happens to be located in the same village as his ex-wife, Antonia. Even though it was Natalie’s idea for them to move closer to his children, she now has to wonder if it all would work out. The story follows Natalie’s adventure trying to navigate the new house, which happens to need a lot of work, the new family dynamics, and her marriage.

While the story was filled with a lot of humor, some of the characters were just not likable to me, no matter how much of a potential redemption arc they could have. Antonia did many “mean girl” behaviors where she would call the main character Natty instead of Natalie, even though Natalie repeatedly told her not to. Her character is written as the “Queen Bee” of the town and she comes across as perfect, although there is more lying underneath. Every reader will interpret her character differently, but I just did not interpret the “cattiness” as humorous and I commend Natalie for putting up with it, as I would not in the same situation. Now onto Carl, he makes many bothersome comments throughout the entire novel, so he was a very difficult character to like. He drove me crazy throughout the entire novel and I have absolutely how he ended up with either wife. Despite me not connecting with either of these characters, they were both written well and it did not take away from my enjoyment of the story.

Natalie was a delightful character. She has low self-esteem and does not think she is as great as “perfect” Antonia or the perfect girl for Carl, who she considers to be out of her league. She goes through a lot of character growth in becoming comfortable with her new role and with her esteem. It was nice to see her come into her own, even if Carl was not always around. I felt a lot of sympathy for Natalie as I just wanted her to discover how much she has to offer the world. She is not perfect, but she tries to learn from her mistakes and to grow as a person, which was relatable and interesting to read about throughout her story.

Overall, this novel was a nice and enjoyable read. There were some subplots, such as Natalie’s father and Carl’s brother, that I would have loved to learn more about, but I liked the general story. The setting was lovely and I would absolutely jump at the chance to live at Rose Cottage, even with all the work that is needed. It was a very sweet story about a woman finding out more about navigating life around her and learning more about herself along the way.

**I give a special thank you to Rachel @rararesources, the publisher, Boldwood Books, and the author Claire Calman, for the opportunity to participate in this enjoyable novel via Netgalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**

One of the things I enjoyed about this novel was the fact that I was never completely sure what I thought about some of the characters until quite far into the story. In particular, Carl and his first wife, Antonia, were a little hard to read and the result of this was that I was also a bit wary about Natalie herself. Natalie turned out to have some issues from her childhood which went some way to explaining her suggestion that they move near to Carl's family.

The village Natalie moves to sounds idyllic on the surface but there are all sorts of local politics to be negotiated. It is a great source of humour and there are some genuinely funny moments as Natalie has to face spiders, missing roof tiles and a gate which is impossible to open. That is before she gets to meet the locals and runs the gauntlet of the main shopping street, hoping to avoid Antonia. With lively dialogue, vividly drawn characters and secrets from the past, this is a highly recommended read.

In short: Can a new marriage survive the family?
Thanks to the author for a copy of the book