With the perfect blend of lighthearted humor and heartfelt authenticity, Husband Auditions is a fresh take on dating, purpose, and "adulting." Meri and Kai seem like an unlikely match at first, but they grow on each other as they grow throughout the story. Meri’s crazy antics and Kai’s sometimes cringe-worthy job-hunting tactics (or lack thereof) make them relatable, engaging characters. Through clever wit and poignant moments, Meri and Kai's story reminds us not to let our expectations keep us from seeing what God has for us. If you enjoy rom-coms by Bethany Turner or Melissa Ferguson, you will love this book!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The book cover and title are eye catching.

Reading through this book, you will find yourself wrapped in emotions ranging from laughter, suspense, interest etc.

I love how this book carried Christian themes without being preachy.

Meri and Kai are two absolute characters you would love to watch out off.

This is the first time of reading Angela Ruth Strong books and her writing prowess is great.

The 101 ways to get a husband that was included at the back of this book was so cute. I am sure somebody will find it useful.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are mine.

This is my first novel by Angela Ruth Strong and I loved it! I'm not usually keen on first person POV--but she totally pulls it off. Both the hero and heroine have first person POVs, with distinct voices/character traits. Often, first person romances are only from the heroine's POV and I feel like I'm missing out on half the story. Not so with this winner! It's naturally humorous without feeling "staged" or over-done. Terrific banter, a great set-up. This novel is a delightful read and I'm looking forward to reading more by this author. Well done!

Husband Auditions is such a fun story. All of Meri’s friends are getting married but not her. Meri has a list of things to do to find a husband. Her brother's roommate Kai does videos for YouTube. They call the YouTube channel MeriMe. I loved how Meri ended up getting so many fans from YouTube. Will Meri find a husband? Read the book to find out.

I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley and the publisher. This book review is my own opinion.

This was a good book, but not in the way that I was expecting it to be. But It still was a good story to be intertained with, and also was a funny reading.

“#16. Work as a waitress or nurse. Men love being taken care of.”

When a list from the 50’s and 60’s on how to find a husband sparks Meri to take on her friend Kai’s challenge to find a husband, things quickly get out of control. This is definitely not your average romcom. It is quirky and fun and yet deep and challenging. The spiritual insights from the story really have me thinking on marriage and expectations. I found it enlightning and beautifully written. Kai stole my heart & both characters are relatable in their struggles. Their bestie, Gemma added some fun curveballs to the story that had me laughing out loud.

“She pulls away slightly, and by slightly, I mean her lips are almost brushing mine when she says, “Your plan isn’t working very well.” I hover. “It’s because I’m Hawaiian. In Hawaii, we say ‘Aloha,’ which means both hello and goodbye. Goodbye kisses confuse me.”

I highly recommend “Husband Auditions” for those who love spiritual depth to their romcom stories. The lovable characters and unrealistic list really makes for a fun read. I’m hoping for more to the story!

I was given a copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own and are given honestly.

Ideas that might have worked in the '50s to catch a husband are nothing compared to what might work in our day and age. Meri is disenchanted when her friend Anne gets married and she realizes that she is the last single girl in her group of friends. Anne gives her something called "The List". As a dedicated Christian, Meri would have been happy to have been glancing at a translation of Proverbs Thirty One. Instead she is looking at a list from the 1950s magazine with ideas on how to catch a husband.

The ideas are outlandish and have the most peculiar suggestions - volunteer with shelter dogs, fake a flat tire, move to a state with more men than women. The list goes on. While Meri is discussing the merits of the list - or lack thereof - with her brother Charlie, his roommate Kai is listening. He thinks it is hilarious. This gives Kai a fabulous idea. Since Charlie happens to be going away on business, Meri is moving in with Kai and their other roommate for a while. Kai begins to develop an idea for his YouTube channel - with Meri and list as the perfect subjects. Kai has even thought of the perfect name - Meri Me.

Although Meri is not too happy with Kai about this, she agrees, and lets Kai film her in her unrelenting search for a husband. This becomes an instant hit. He knows he is not husband material, but hopefully someone out there is the perfect one for Meri. The more time Kai and Meri spend together, the more they realize the share the same faith. The same values. But it is enough for the two of them to soon realize that they are actually rather attracted to each other? Would it be enough for them to take a chance at love?

What a delightful read. This slow-burn romance was a nice mix of faith, friendship and humor. Husband Auditions was a nice, enjoyable story with a wonderful story that kept me smiling throughout. I most definitely recommend this story that will prove to provide a nice escape.

Many thanks to Audra Jennings PR and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

I wanted to love this book. It sounded fun. And a lighthearted funny unique story always appeals to me. I have loved Angela Ruth Strong's books. She is very talented. This story is unique and fun, but it wasn't for me. This may appeal more to those who are in the dating world right now. The list was great and very creative. But right now, it was too light of a read for me. And the ending just wasn't what I wanted.
Thank you to Net Galley for allowing me to read this book. The opinions are entirely my own.

This book was so much fun to read! Having been married 32 years you might think… Why would you read this! Well, I have heard so much about it and the author I just had to get my hands on it! I laughed hysterically at times, was surprised a few but most of all I smiled! There is a lot of good stuff in this book. Things that truly can help some marriages and couples. I always like books that give you things to ponder and reflect on. I can’t wait to hear that Angela Ruth Strong is finishing Meri and Kai’s story. I haven’t looked to see if she has said she is. I’d highly recommend this book to everyone… married, engaged, single!

A unique, witty storyline bolsters the premise of Husband Auditions. This is not your average rom-com. There's plenty of humor mixed with deep truth gems from inspirational author Angela Ruth Strong. The cast of diverse characters is entertaining and worthy of cheers and vocal opinions and responses. You'll cringe at the horrible, outdated dating advice, but applaud how Meri handles Kai and the numerous subjects. Of particular note is the author's refusal to rush toward a bow-tied ending, which this reader appreciates. Be sure to read the Acknowledgements and About the Author sections at the end.

I received a complimentary copy of the book without obligation. This review is my opinion.

This book was a mixed bag for me for sure. On the one hand, it was super cute, funny and it made me smile. On the other hand, I found it hitting a little too close to home with it's thoughts and emotions on singleness. The storyline was really fun and it had a whole host of really lovable characters! But I found Meri scary relatable! Some of the things she was thinking and feeling were the exact same things that have gone through my head at times. Angela Ruth Strong so accurately portrays the plight of Christian women who have been single for a long time. I also really appreciated her thoughts on marriage, how it's not enough to simply not be a cheater or not be abusive. That you both have to put in the work to make a marriage work. Though Meri was scarily relatable, I found her absolutely adorable! And her zest for life is so contagious! I honestly don't know if I like Kai, he's exactly what I don't like in a guy but he's also so charming and funny. The kissing scenes though! So so swoony! I felt like I needed a fan or something! I enjoyed joining Meri on her journey of self-discovery, via Youtube, where she learnt that marriage doesn't mean happiness and single doesn't mean alone.

Husband Auditions by Angela Ruth Strong

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
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Story Notes

This highly entertaining story from Angela will have you laughing out loud, feeling frustrated, swooning and happy dancing often as you journey with Meri to prove that a 1950s list of how to find a husband is completely absurd.

I had such fun reading this story. I was hooked from the first page and couldn't wait to see how everything turned out. Meri Newberg is the "last" of her Christian friends who is still single and she is feeling the pressure significantly. Gifted the infamous "List" of ways to find a husband from one of her best friends after her wedding, Meri proceeds to feel even worse. When her temporary roommate Kai suggests she prove that the list is ridiculous, and let him film it, she reluctantly agrees. Meri decides its her chance to show other women that trying to be what others want you to be is the wrong way to find your future spouse. Plus, this vlog series will give Kai the much needed exposure to land a job he needs. So begins their quest to squelch the myths of "THE LIST", beginning with "Lassoing a Man". As Meri and Kai work their way through the list of suggestions, their own life problems surface and must be faced. Can Meri move beyond the fairytale story she thinks she wants into a real-life relationship with all its bumps and bruises that make it wonderful? Can Kai move from apathetic about life to finding the driven purpose he once had before his injury? Come read and find out - believe me it is definitely worth your time.
I loved the story and how everything played out. Meri faced some serious fears and took chances that made her a better person. To be perfectly honest, I didn't really like Kai, given his lazy attitude towards life. The second half of the book really improved him, though I think it was Meri inspiring him to want to be better. He saw the importance of having healthy ambition and how much that means to someone you might like to be in your life forever. I really liked that Angela didn't gloss over the hard conversations in the story. She gave us all the gritty details and feelings that everyone feels in those situations and that made the story really wonderful. I certainly will be recommending this one to others and hope that they will enjoy it as much as I did. I'm also looking forward to checking out more from Angela. Her Cuppa Mysteries look really great!

I received this temporary complimentary E- Book from Kregel Publications via NetGalley in order to write a fair and honest review. I will receive no fiscal compensation for this review and the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own and not required by anyone.

I started this book right after a good old historical romance, so I did have to switch gears a bit.
This book was really unique, if you are looking for something a bit different from your average contemporary romance, look this one up!
The characters get in some pretty humorous situations, however it was the serious deep questions that are asked that really resonated with me. I really appreciated how this book gives a very important message to those who are seeking spouses. It just seems to be a crazy world we live in and I appreciated how this book turns the focus onto what God wants in our lives, not what we want God to do for us.
I do wish one of the main characters didn't do what he did, and the ending was a bit different from what I normally want, but it definitely fit the story and the where the characters were at.
Well done!
I recieved a complementary copy of this book from the publisher through Netgally. All opinions in this review are my own and honest.

What a fun lighthearted read! I absolutely loved the story. What’s a girl to do when she is the last of her friends to be single? Why turn to the 1950s for advise of course! Meri decides with her friend Kai to film herself doing all kinds of things from an article in the 1950s about how to get a man. Everything from lasso a cowboy to pretend to be drowning. This was a book I really enjoyed reading and recommend if you want some light reading.

Husband Auditions is a sweet romance with surprising depth on the nature of love and marriage. The set up was brilliant (go through a list from the 1950s on catching a husband and share on youtube). Though a bit predictable, I was pleasantly pleased at the unconventional ending. This rom-com is a fun beach read. Thanks to NetGalley for a DRC. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4186307526

Husband Auditions is fun and quirky and full of today’s vernacular. From the very first chapter to the last, this book made me laugh. Younger audiences will get a kick out of the 1950s ideas of how to catch a husband. And “watching” Meri act them out in a contemporary style will bring so many belly laughs that anyone around you will want to know immediately what is so funny.

Rom-com between the pages is a great way to describe the story and it would definitely make for a hilarious movie. With delectable tension between Meri and Kai, you know when they finally “discover” each other it is going to be an absolutely ambrosial moment.

Strong writes with precision and spunk, never allowing a moment of boredom. I highly recommend Husband Auditions to fans of contemporary romance. It’s laced with wit, charm, love, and an all-around feel good vibe.

I received a copy of the book from the author and publisher. This opinion is my own. No compensation received.

This is a good romance for young career age people. It will be especially enjoyed by people who pay attention to social media, such as reality channels on YouTube. But there is a warning. Are those reality shots authentically real or are they staged to get hits, to be trending? Can it really be true romance when thousands of people are watching?

This novel is lots of fun. There is clever dialogue and a good dose of humor. But it is realistic too. There are some points from a good sermon on marriage included. And there are some painful examples of the reality that marriage is work and many marriages fall apart.

Strong's writing style is fun. The idea of trying decades old tips on finding a man within the modern social media mix makes for an entertaining plot. The narrative does change points of view, generally alternating between Meri and Kai. It made for some confusion on occasion, my wondering which “I” was sharing experiences this time.

Readers who have been praying for a husband since middle school, like Meri, will enjoy this entertaining romance. Just make sure the fellow you fall for wants you more than he does hits on his videos.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Read With Audra. My comments are an independent and honest review.

I've read and enjoyed some of Angela Strong's books, so I jumped right into her new romantic comedy.

Meri Newberg's been given a sixty year old outdated list on ways to attract a husband and decides to give it a try. She has nothing to lose since she the last single standing in her group of girlfriends. There are some ridiculously absurd things on the list of 101 Ways to Find a Husband and some of the ways Meri went about them made me laugh. Her brother Charlie's roommate Kai asks to film her outlandish attempts at snagging a husband to help him snag his dream job.
Being an introvert, I cringed at her saying yes to being filmed and making herself so vulnerable as to have her manhunt posted to social media. I couldn't really relate to Kai as a lead guy, he doesn't have much ambition for a man of thirty-one. He is playing it safe both in his career and with relationships, taking the path of least resistance. He admits he doesn't want any responsibility or commitment.

Meri and Kai both have had their eyes opened along the way to the level of commitment it takes to make a marriage work. I think this book will appeal to romcom readers in the twenty to forty age group. I rate it 3.5 stars. I appreciate Kregel Publications making a copy of Husband Auditions available for review. All thoughts and opinions are my very own.

This was a cute story and an interesting premise. Both main characters were easy to like and root for their happiness.

Angela will have you feeling all the emotions in this book. From laughing out loud to crying right along with Meri. In this book, Meri Newberg, is given a list of “Ways to Get A Husband” an article from a 1950’s magazine as a gift from her latest friend to get married. With nothing left to lose she decides to try this list out. The catch her brother’s roommate Kai talks her into letting him film the entire thing for a Youtube show named Meri Me. You will find yourself cheering for Meri as she knocks off each thing on “the list”. While this book is light and funny, Angela has also managed to bring in a great message from the bible and a reminder to pray about the choices and situations put before you.

** I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. This opinion is mine and mine alone.