The plot of Hubscher's sophomore novel was significantly less of a tear-jerker than her debut, but I still managed to cry! A woman leaves work early to prepare a sushi surprise for her husband only to find him (literally) entangled with another woman. This inciting incident set up a slew of bad (but understandable) actions as well as an adorable meet-cute with an absolute darling of a book boyfriend. I thoroughly enjoyed this heartfelt romance, and the character development was wonderful. I think my favorite parts were Sweetie's responses to the advice questions and honestly think the author would make a fabulous advice columnist!

4.5 rounded up to 5

Violet Covington has the perfect job, writing an advice column called Sweetie, and has the perfect marriage--or so she thinks when she comes home early to find out that her perfect husband is Cheater McCheater from Cheatsville. Violet, who has some buried issues we discover, goes ballistic, which involves dragging the cheater's most precious items out to the driveway and setting them on fire.

The fire department shows up to put out the fire. One of them is a super hot, super nice firefighter named Dez.

Violent pushes him away, simmering in her stew of alcohol-fueled anger, which leads her to unload her real feelings in a Sweetie column by accident . . . which of course goes viral. And has consequences.

I'd chosen this novel because I thought it would be a funny romcom, which was what I was in the mood for during the recent hibernation while Omicron had its way with the world. Unexpectedly, what I got had some very funny scenes, but also some emotionally dark stuff, including a look at infertility and grief and using alcohol to mask emotions.

We also get flashbacks of Violet's and Sam's marriage, while Sam keeps coming around, wanting to be forgiven and go back to where they were. I wasn't quite as fond of that thread, though I really liked the way Hubscher had Violet deal with the consequences of her unfiltered behavior--including meeting up with the other half of the cheating incident.

Meanwhile this is a romance, and there's handsome, kind, good Dez the firefighter . . .

Overall I enjoyed most of it, and though I was looking for something lighter, I appreciated how Hubscher deftly handled a lot of rough subjects, and showed Violet's growth as a result.

A good Southern woman never lets them see her sweat. She is perfectly poised at all times - even when she catches her husband in her bed with another woman. She doesn't build a bonfire with his clothes in the cul-de-sac. She doesn't start a relationship with a hot firefighter. She certainly doesn't have a melt down in her advice columnist.

Good thing IF YOU ASK ME's Violet Covington isn't a "good" Southern woman - she's an exceptionally great one!

If you've ever wanted to drop the nice act long enough to stand up for yourself against the bullying in-laws, judgmental neighbors, two-faced friends, or a good-for-nothing husband (with hilarious results!) then Libby Hubscher's IF YOU ASK ME is the book for you!

Ok, I understand that a woman should hold her composure before she erupts and does something drastic. There is no way I would have did that as I find my husband two timing me in my own bed! Oh my gosh this book was a please help me Dr. Phil. The writer did a wonderful job with the story. How she told the story from Violets person was great. For me it made the story flow smoothly, as well as making the story more real and believable. I thought the story read very fast, but I think that was to keep up with the entertainment in the story. The ups and downs with Dez was the exciting part of the story. The romance was sweet and romantic.

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley for the early copy of If You Ask Me.

I absolutely adored Meet Me In Paradise by this author and I was so excited to find out she has a new book coming out.

I am disappointed, I did not like this book. I didn’t connect to any of the characters. Dez was maybe the only decent person in this book. Vi was a disaster, she was a mess, self distracting and totally unlikable. I didn’t feel the chemistry between them at all.
I didn’t really like the story line. I don’t like cheating, that’s such a turn off in books for me.

I expected more out of this book but it just didn’t deliver.

This book was just ok for me. I liked all the characters but I got really frustrated with almost all of them. It was a fine book to read in an afternoon but I don’t know if I will be recommending it to friends.

Thank you Berkley Pub and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are that of my own.

This book gives me conflicting feelings for many reasons. I enjoyed the book for the most part, but that's only after I mentally took it out of the romance category and into lit./women's fiction. Once you make that mental shift, this book flows well and Violet's personal journey was great to follow.

First, I just want to explain why I don't want to classify this as a romance. It is mainly due to the romance plot line being secondary to Violet's personal development plot--which is perfectly fine! There was limited conflict in the romantic plot and I was not as compelled to believe in it. Actually, Violet and Dez's relationship was a struggle for me to believe as Dez was a little too perfect and everything just fell into place too well, but that may just be me. I DID, however, believe and enjoy Violet. Her development and character arc was incredibly messy, but it was truly the focus of the story and to say otherwise is a disservice to this novel.

Violet is one of those characters that you both like and want to slap upside the head at the same time. But I get why. Violet went from being this perfectly molded wife to everything she held falling to pieces around her. Between her job doing well but stressful and her personal life being held together by strings I can comprehend the lack of rationale for Violet's actions. Sure, I cringed a lot but I never wanted to stop reading because of it. And honestly, her character was SO well crafted. She stood the line between stereotypical white suburb trophy wife and a woman of her own making for so much of the novel and her growing pains were PAINS.

And this is where some of the weaker parts of the story came to place. I disliked the lack of continuity of flashbacks in the later part of the book because those made Violet's character. Additionally, the secondary characters felt like secondary characters in the sense that I didn't care too much about them or how they really affected the novel (minus Violet's ex-husband). Dez was the most disappointing part of the novel, but I kind of wonder if that's from residual belief in the romance centric plot of the book. Idk.

Long story short I would recommend this book. I think that it's an interesting story about the destruction and rebuilding of a woman entirely made. It's such a good women's fiction book. Honestly it would be GREAT for a book club actually. All in all I'm glad I got to read it.

I 100% expected to dismiss this book as a "been there, read that" situation and in a lot of ways, it was. But the flow of the writing and the reflection in it made it easy to get swept along for this otherwise unoriginal ride to second chances.

I didn't really like the flashbacks in Violet and Sam's relationship—unless the point really was to show how unsuited they were from the start, and I'm not sure that it was.

If there's a point about infidelity in this novel, I don't know what it is. At first, I thought we were going to explore how infidelity comes to be: the lack of communication (both talking and listening), active avoidance to have difficult conversations, not sharing common interests, basically feeling unfulfilled by the relationship. I mean, all this stuff. But no, it became about sex. The age-old stereotype that cheating is only about sex and a man's general douchebaggery.

If I were going to guess, I'd say that Violet refusing to take her own advice and be emotionally vulnerable will raise similar problems in her relationship with her new dude.

Any book that has me giggling along as I read is a win in my book! If You Ask Me is about a woman scorned who maaaybe doesn't deal with that in the best ways, but in ways that we could all imagine. Burn your ex's stuff on the front lawn? Yes, please. Highly recommended!

Libby Hubscher's newest release has all of the things that are my personal catnip:
1. A very real portrayal of struggling to fit yourself into everyone else's expectations- and the eventual realization that you owe them nothing.
2. A heartbreakingly real depiction of the sorrow of infertility-and an indictment of all of those that relegate a woman's worth to nothing more than her ability to bear children.
3. An exposure of the danger in blaming oneself for a partner's infidelity. Because ultimately, infidelity is a personal choice.
4. A cinnamon roll hero who chases away the shadows, brings you croissants and coffee, and gives soul nourishing hugs.

In the words of Miranda L., this ain't your mama's broken heart. It's yours. Heels and lipstick won't fix it.

You are the one who decides what your lines are and who has your permission to cross them. But you should never twist yourself into a pretzel to make you more palatable to someone. You should never shove down the doubts that are your subconscious telling you that you deserve more and better.

But not giving a flying crap what your former mother in law thinks of your new spine, and letting a hot firefighter manhandle you in front of the rose bushes, in full view if your nosy neighbor, is a fabulous start.

As women we are cajoled and cosseted and told we have to have a perfect manicure, and dye the gray, and fit into a size 6-- even if we have to survive with no bread and chocolate.

This book is a fierce, feminist ode to realizing you are enough as a woman.

My eternal gratitude to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to review an ARC of this title in exchange for my honest opinions.

Libby Hubscher is back with another book that will make you laugh, cry, and swoon (although not necessarily in that order). Violet is the quintessential advice columnist - great at giving it, terrible at taking it herself. Watching her reclaim her life after her marriage implodes was wonderful, especially because it comes with the assistance of sweet and sexy firefighter Dez, who is fabulous book boyfriend. Read this one when you want a romance that will make you feel all the things!

This was such a fun read. I loved the way the author included the letters and responses from Dear Sweetie. My heart hurt for Violet and her actions in response to her situation were both hilarious and honest. I did not want to stop reading this and thoroughly enjoyed it.

If you like hot men in uniforms, then Ms. Hubscher's new book, IF YOU ASK ME is perfect! It's hysterical, gutsy and swoon-worthy. Violet Convington is an advice columnist for the local newspaper. Her world goes bonkers when she finds her husband in the sack with another woman. Violet goes berserk! She is normally calm and rational, but this is extreme circumstances. She lights her husband's cherished belongings on fire in the middle of the street. Soon, the firemen come and put the fire out. However, a compassionate, macho fireman, Dez, asks if she is all right? Dez is a gentleman, considerate and dashing. One thing leads to another and they start seeing each other. Only, is this the real thing?

Violet has a lot of soul searching to do. Her grief over her failed marriage combusts. She does irrational things, drinks too much, gives poor advice in her column, which goes viral, eliciting comments from her concerned boss. Violet is scared of opening up her heart to love again. She thought she had a wonderful marriage but she somehow missed the signs. Dez is a very patient and kind man. Will she gamble with love and find that Dez is the perfect man for her? Or is true love a myth?

IF YOU ASK ME is inspirational and ultimately a feel good story. Violet, who walks in on her scumbag husband bonking another lady, goes through stages of grief, anger, denial, irrational outbursts, in examining the infidelity in her marriage. Between all this she has the good fortune to meet a kind, compassionate, hunkalicious man, Dez, who is a firefighter. Dez falls for the gorgeous, unpredictable, feisty Violet and likes her just like that. He actually wants to spend every minute with her! Does their romance lead to something lasting? I was rooting for Violet all the way! The author did a perfect job not victimizing her, but allowing her to grow into a stronger woman. IF YOU ASK ME is a truly empowering story. A salute to women everywhere!

If You Ask Me follows Violet, an advice columnist who has just found her husband in bed with another woman. Heartbroken and enraged, Violet burns his clothes in the street, prompting the fire department to come, which is how she meets a handsome firefighter named Dez. As Violet deals with her break-up and other life-changing events, she and Dez grow closer. But with mishaps at her job and a husband begging for forgiveness, Violet must decide what she wants for her future.

Violet went through a lot over the course of the story, and I like that she grew and learned so much about who she is and what she wants in life. She has a seemingly picture-perfect life with a great career and marriage until she finds he husband in bed with another woman. Now, everything she ever knew about her life is in shambles, and she is a mess. Her husband’s betrayal incites a complete change in Violet’s life, and her journey in finding happiness, accepting herself, and taking another chance on love is at the forefront of the novel.

Violet’s situations are relatable, and I sympathized with her character even though I didn’t always love the impulsive things she did. She goes through a rollercoaster of emotions, and the anger, frustration, hopelessness, and desire for revenge that Violet feels after she is spurned by her husband is very realistic. She falls apart and becomes quite angry and bitter, which is reflected in her advice column. With her career, relationships, and well-being at risk, Violet really has to search within herself and figure out who she is and what she really wants in life. Does she want to be this angry and bitter? Can she forgive? How has her marriage and relationship with family affected and shaped her? She learns all this and more about herself as she searches for self-acceptance, happiness, and love.

Dez, Violet’s potential love interest is super sweet and supportive, and I love how he accepts Violet for who she is. He has also gone through heartbreak, and his calm, centered support is exactly what Violet needs. He is a thoughtful and encouraging man who never pushes Violet, and he becomes a constant that she can depend on. Plus, he gives the most lovely forehead kisses that are positively swoon-worthy!

I also really like that the story includes Sweetie’s advice column, as well as text messages with Dez. It adds more context and depth to the characters and their different relationships. The inclusion of the advice columns shows how drastically Violet’s life has changed and how much her personal life affects all aspects of her life. And the texts with Dez show how much their relationship is growing and deepening.

I enjoyed this story. It’s funny and a bit heart-wrenching, and includes many heavy topics like infertility, alcoholism, anxiety, infidelity, grief, and more. It’s not a light and fluffy rom-com, though there are many funny, heart-warming, and laugh-out-loud moments. Instead, it is a journey of self-discovery, change, and finding oneself. Thanks so much to Berkley Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

I really love the premise of this book. It was cute and fun and a fast read for me. I recommend it to someone friends for sure

I loved the advice column element of this book as well as how it covered life after a collapse of a marriage…. However for me, where this book fell flat is I never found myself caring about the characters (they aren’t bad, Dez is actually very thoughtful) and as someone who loves a good character above all else, I couldn’t look past that. Additionally I really liked the beginning of the book but it eventually seemed to drag a bit. I think a lot of people will connect with this one, it just didn’t work for me as well as I thought it would.

This was a lovely book that I liked because it ended up having so much depth to it. There was a little romance (really light on physical romance), but it was grounded more in the main character learning to embrace her imperfections and deal with her issues in a healthy manner. There was a cute firefighter, so that didn't hurt, but again I think the emotional impact of the relationship was stronger than any of the physical stuff. My favorite part of the novel was when she learned to forgive and realized that vengeance was only hurting herself. There is a well-rounded cast of side characters too that I think people will enjoy. I appreciated that the author gave trigger warnings for the content inside her book that might not be for some readers: infidelity, alcoholism, miscarriage, and infertility. I hope that more authors continue to do this.

I have... mixed opinions on this book.

If You Ask Me follows Violet, an advice columnist who just found her husband of 12 years in bed with their neighbor. Rightly outraged, Violet spirals a little and burns his favorite belongings in the street. While she tends to her broken heart, she starts to grow closer to the hot firefighter who saved the day.

I did enjoy this book even though there were some parts that frustrated me throughout and that honestly made me upset at times.

First, the absolute best part of this book was the love interest Dez. Dez is a dream of a main character. I love how he took care of Violet throughout everything she went through and stuck with her, even while she might not have been at her best. He fought for her and I appreciated that.

And the part that made me upset the most, Violet forgave everyone so easily. There are two people who did Violet EXTREMELY wrong, and she forgives them both so easily. It really tainted the book for me and made me want to pull out my hair.

*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the advanced copy*

When advice columnist Violet Covington walks in on her husband of twelve years having sex with another woman in their bed, Violet's "perfect" life explodes. She's angry and heartbroken and her feelings find their way into her advice column. All of a sudden Violet is putting the perfect Southern woman facade aside and getting real with the people who ask her for advice.

When she burns her husband Sam's stuff - expensive suits, autographed Michael Jordan poster and all - in her front yard, a busybody neighbor calls the fire department. That's when Violet meets Dez who is new in town with a heartbreak of his own and who likes Violet just the way she is.

But being real isn't always a blessing. Her boss and best friend has troubles dealing with the new, unfiltered Violet's columns, and old friends are taking sides in the Sam versus Violet conflict. Then there is Dez who is always there when Violet has problems and offers unwavering support. But can Violet afford to take a chance and fall in love again?

This was an entertaining story that hits on the themes of infidelity and infertility and building a new life after heartbreak. I found myself rooting for Violet and wanting her to take the leap into a new, happier future. Dez was a sweetheart and wonderful character too.

I’m so thrilled to read this book before today. And I got to say that this book is definitely an emotional read. Get ready for some tissues while you read this book.
Violet never expected her life to explode right in front of her while she is getting ahead of her career. It’s definitely a wake call for Violet. She has been pretending for a while that she was happy in her marriage (which she was not). It may have taken for her husband to cheat on her for her to realize how unhappy she was in life. And how much she has been holding on to her grief for so long. She may have not noticed it, but she will as she continued to figure out her life after divorce. And it does help that she finds someone along the way.
Did I expect myself to be sloppy messy after finishing this book? No, I expected a fluffy romance book. But book covers can be very deceiving. And this book made me realize that grief is always present no matter how hard you try to avoid it. That’s something Violet will soon realize as she navigates her single life.