Author Angela Ruth Strong pens a delightful romantic comedy in this inspirational romance.

In Husband Auditions, Meri Newberg is the last of her friends to get married. In fact, she is still waiting for her happily-ever-after. Her newly-married best friend hands her a list of outdated tips on how to land a husband, and Meri decides to try it. Her brother’s roommate Kai Kamaka is a cameraman who films her attempts, thinking it will help him advance his career. What happens when they spend time together and their friendship changes? Is Kai husband material?

Strong writes inspirational romance with endearing characters, and this book is no exception. Husband Auditions is written in alternating points-of-view, with some of the 101 ways to catch a husband listed at the top of each chapter (the entire list is at the end of the book). The List was used by Meri’s friends, and is supposedly based on a 1950s article. Meri tries everything from lassoing a man on a street corner to a billboard, all in the name of snagging a husband. Kai films her attempts and watches as Meri pursues her dream, even in the face of failure.

Both Meri and Kai discover some things about themselves, their dreams, and their faith. Filled with humor, romance, and important lessons on love, Husband Auditions is a swoon-worthy light-hearted read -- and not your typical happily-ever-after!

Recommended for adult collections in public libraries, and for fans of Bethany Turner, and other contemporary romance authors.

Disclaimer: Book reviews are my honest opinion of books I either purchased or received free of cost from the publishers, publicists, and/or authors. I am not required to write reviews, nor to even post positive reviews.

Are you looking for a fun, light-hearted summer time read? Don't look further --READ THIS BOOK!! :)
This is a new-to-me author, although I have seen her name here and there, but just hadn't read any of her books yet. I was captivated. Surprised. Delighted. And more.
This book is one of those that would make an excellent rom-com. Fun, hilarious, and yet some seriousness thrown in here and there.
Meri is the last in her group to be single. So...after her best friend gets married, she's feeling a bit desperate. It doesn't help matters any that said friend gifts her "The List"...one dating back to the 1950s, offering all kinds of tips on how to catch a husband. Meri decides to go along with Kai's suggestion of making it a fun YouTube channel.
he journey, folks...it's all about the journey. And yes, it is humorous. There were times I caught myself laughing out loud. I found this just the perfect read for my afternoon road trip I took recently.
If you like contemporary Christian romance novels, then I'm sure you will thoroughly enjoy this one!
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

I've heard good things about Angela Ruth Strong's books, but this is the first one I've read. The premise of the book is very humorous and honestly would make a really cute movie. I enjoyed the banter between the characters and could very easily see something like this play out in real life. The characters are so relatable and while I wouldn't necessarily follow a list from a magazine in the 1950s about how to find a husband, I could easily see some women doing it. Looking forward to adding more books by Angela Ruth Strong to my to be read pile.

8. Check out his grocery cart. If you like what he buys, you might like him as a person.

65. Breathe as little as possible around him and make them shallow breaths. No man wants to see the full girth of a woman's rib cage.

99. Create suspense like Alfred Hitchcock by buying a convertible to go with your headscarf and cat-eye glasses.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions in this review are my own.

Cute story and fun idea. I was initially drawn to the story based on the blurb. Basically, Meri is the last single girl in her friend group. Her friend passes down The List, a magazine article from the fifties that gives advice on how to get a husband. Kai, Meri's roomate, agrees to film her using the list to meet guys. Kai starts to fall for Meri.

The story is fun because the list is full of bizarre activities to get the attention of guys. This keeps the plot moving and helps the characters grow as a match. The characters were relatable. I was really hoping for an epilogue to take the story into the future. That would have satisfied my need for finality. Maybe there will be a follow-up book.

This book has strong Christian themes.

I tried reading but the characters seemed childish to me. The characters annoyed me for some reasons. DNF

*******************I received an ARC for my honest opinion. ***************************

With the title I envisioned guys on a stage literally auditioning for Meri's hand . . . doing some outrageous things like you'd see on the Bachelor/Bachelorette show. This book was so far from that.

It had crazy, outrageous, fun and embarrassing things within the list that Meri and her cameraman Kai did throughout the book but the book was deep and made you think about not only the importance of marriage but seriousness of choosing the right person and allowing God to be the one to not only direct you but place His hand directly upon you both.

Even with all the fun inside these pages there was the need for healing among the characters and Ms. Strong wasn't afraid to write about those hard things that have affected us all. The healing from brokenness that only God can provide.

This is one of my favorite books of the summer and I hope there will be at least one sequel!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book via the publisher. I was not required to write a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

"Husband Auditions" literally made me laugh out loud, it was that funny. And not just once, but multiple times!

Strong is a talented author, whose eye is right on point with struggles singles (and marrieds!) go through in present-day society. I really appreciated how the book (graciously and lovingly) calls out various societal components in this regard. Bravo!

I also entirely loved the Portland (Oregon) setting! I've spent my fair share of time there, and adored the familiar location references, especially Powell's Books! Holla!

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I've always found lists from old women's magazines quite interesting. To see how the world was 50-60 years ago is eye-opening to say the least; a lot has changed, some might say for the better while others think not so much. When I saw this book that evolved around a list like this, I was intrigued and am thankful that Angela Ruth Strong, Kregel Publications, and NetGalley gave me the opportunity to read it.

The book centers around Meri and a list she was given by her best friend, at the best friend's wedding. this list had been passed down from friend to friend as each one got married until it landed with Meri. Desperate to find love (really a husband), she joked that she would take this list from the '50s and do them to find her mate. Kai, her new roommate, decides he wants to help her complete the items on the list while filming them for YouTube, which is beneficial to him landing his dream job as a cameraman for a hit show.

The items on the list are hilarious, and how they go about completing the items makes it even funnier. I enjoyed reading the quirky banter between Meri and Kai. Was it cheesy? Sure. It was also fairly relatable. The setting for me was spot on as it takes place in Portland, and I am a die-hard lover of the West Coast. It is truly my happy place. So many, many brownie points for the scenery.

I do want to point out that this is not your typical romance novel. There isn't a lot of steam, and there is a very strong presence of God and Christianity. If you're not into that, you probably won't enjoy the book; however Anglea Strong does a really great job at depicting the purity of not only first love but true love. This love comes in the form of mother/daughter, man/woman, and friend/friend. There are a lot of intricacies involved in many of the relationships throughout the book. This is the theme of the book I really enjoyed.

I would recommend this if someone asked for a sweet, feel-good romance. I also will be on the lookout for the follow-up book to this one. If you read this, you'll know what I mean.

Hope you enjoy it as I did.

This book was so good! It's well written and will keep you turning the pages. It's a fun Christian rom-com that will make you laugh out loud. I loved it! I received a complimentary copy from Kregel Publications via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC of this book; I appreciate it.

This book has such a unique concept following a "How to Capture a Husband" list from the 1950's. There were a lot of fun moments as the couple tried these ideas, but I found the book dragged a bit for me. Also, this is a Christian romance but I found that the Christianity was almost forced into the story, sort of like the author wrote a few chapters and then thought "oh! I need to add some Christian themes now" and then forgot about it for another few chapters. So overall, the book was fun but uneven.

*NetGalley provided this ARC in exchange for an honest review*

Firstly, I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book. Husband Auditions re-visits 1950's dating methods with a focus on Christianity, Meri follows a list from the 1950s on how to find a husband, enlisting the help of her brother's friend Kai. I found the book interesting from the start, it was quite refreshing to see a character (Kai) who had an interest in editing, filmmaking etc. and Meri's job as a nurse emphasises her kind qualities as a character. But whilst I felt invested from the start, this began to dwindle as I didn't really feel the connection between Kai and Meri, leading me to finish this book over a couple of days rather than bingeing. By the end, I still wasn't feeling like a supporter of the two but the book was enjoyable, it was refreshing to see a romance that included the topic of God also, whilst I may not have loved this book - it was an innovative take on the romcom drama by reflecting methods from the 1950s into the 21st century.

All opinions are my own.


https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4146549066

When I read the blurb for this book I knew that I wanted to read it. This is such a fantastic concept and I was excited to see how Angela would use it. The characters are one of the most unlikely pairings I’ve read. But they also worked really well together. I loved how this book doesn’t just cover dating but encourages people to think about marriage during the dating process.

I will say that this book did not end like I expected. But I am not upset about it. It was the ending that the story and the characters actually needed.

Husband auditions follows Meri as she tries to find a husband using a list from the 1950s with the help of her roommate Kai. This is told from first person dual pov. This book has an interesting premise and it is a Christian Romance so there is a focus on God which personally I didn’t mind. The beginning of the story really drew me in but after 25% it started to get repetitive and boring. The connection between Meri and Kai felt forced and some of the situations Meri was in were forced when I wanted it to be organic. That being said, I do recommend this book to anyone who enjoys light Christian romance.

I loved the premise of this book poking fun at an old list from the 1950's of how to catch a husband (and was delighted to see the full list at the end of the book as well). I also liked the storyline of falling in love with the last person you expected, but Meri was a difficult character for me to like. She was so judgemental of Kai without even really knowing him well, and even after she got to know him it seemed like she got more judgemental and to me that was irritating, overall I enjoyed the humor in the book and how the story unfolded.

One of my favorite things to discover in used bookstores is old dating/courting etiquette rules, so when I saw the description of Husband Auditions by Angela Ruth Strong, I knew I had to read it! 31 year-old Meri is the last single girl in her group of friends, and to add insult to injury, is given a 50 year-old list of "101 Ways to Find a Husband" by her newly married friend. At first, she laughs off suggestions such as "Why stop with a hat, when you could carry a hatbox?" and "Don't let him see your age on your driver's license. You are whatever age he wants you to be." However, her brother's roommate Kai suggests filming reality show Meri Me based on her attempts to win a husband through these methods. As they work together, Meri discovers her happily ever after may be closer than she realizes.

I enjoyed this book! A lot of the suggestions made me laugh, and I found Meri and Kai's struggle to figure out God's direction for their lives very relatable. Strong created an amusing cast of secondary characters as well, and created a very accurate picture of Christian singleness in today's society (and how many old-fashioned ways to "get a man" are not going to cut it anymore!). I wanted a little more from the ending, but I think that was also the point; overall, a very enjoyable summer rom-com!

The 1950s meet 2021 in this fun book by author Angela Ruth Strong. Meri’s list for catching a husband will crack you up, as will the relationship between Meri and Kai.

Strong’s wit shines through in the dialogue. The quips will keep you laughing, as will the stunts Meri pulls. In fact, be prepared to chortle out loud and receive strange looks from those you live with. Did women really go to such lengths to catch a husband?

The romcom includes not just humor, but warmth and romance with the proper tension. It’s one of Strong’s finest so grab a copy.

I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.

An evil card with a revolting gift is what starts Meri on her journey. After her friend's wedding, Meri is left as the last single girl from the group. A 1950's list on how to land a husband brings Meri advice on what she deems how not to land a husband. She decides to recreate some of the antics from the list. Her brother's roommate Kai wants a change but is too disillusioned to try and make the change. However, is Meri allows him to tag along and film her attempts, this may be just the jump start he needs. Born: Meri Me. Will these two be able to film the show despite the chemistry brewing? Does Kai really want Meri to find her Mr. Right?
You will love the zany cast of characters. The sizzling feelings that zing and the zap that wakes them up. Angela Ruth Strong is known for her bold character development. Her amusing and lively story lines that drew the reader into the story. If you are looking for a fun read that you can't put down, turn to the Husband Auditions show. One never knows who or whom they will catch. I received a copy from the author. A review was not required.

Comical, charming and filled with cliches. It’s not disappointing but does have a few annoying troupes. Quick read. It was hit or Miss for me.

I wasn’t sure what to expect given the title, but I was quickly drawn into this humorous, but candid story I stayed up late reading. I felt for main character Meri, a woman who has been on a search for a soul mate and through Kai, who has been run over by life’s circumstances. Meri’s friends gave her a list, created in the 1950s, on How to Catch a Husband. Meri shares this list with Kai. He thinks it’s hilarious and just the thing to will help him land a camera job he desires. Kai explains his hopes and Meri goes along with it in hopes of achieving both of their goals. Meri to find a husband and Kai to get a better job. But something unexpected happens as they go down this list and actually do what the list demands.

I was pleasantly surprised at how deep this author goes with her characters and shows what is important in life and relationships. LOVED this story and how these characters evolve as they go through the list. They learn a lot about themselves, life, and love. This process brings clarity of what their hopes and dreams. They also learn how not to let emotions run their lives, but learn to slow down and give things and time to bloom and grow before they are ready to meet their soul mate.

Great story, one that is a fun read and would work well for your next book club pick. This is the first novel I’ve read by this author, it won’t be the last.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have received a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog www.bookfun.org

I can't believe this is my first Angela Ruth Strong book because woooow I totally was knocked off my chair with this one. A huge thanks to Kregel Publications for my e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. Would you follow advice from the 1950s to bag a man? Husband Auditions follows Meri Newberg the last of her single friends who decides to follow advice from a 1950s magazine because it can't get any worse than that right!? Her brother's roomate Kai Kamaka decides to help by documenting the whole thing on YouTube. What could possibly go wrong? I thoroughy enjoyed this delightful rom-com.