I want to start by saying that I truly think the marketing of this book is slightly off. While it is technically a romantic-comedy, it is way heavier and leans closer to contemporary side of the genre rather than straight rom-com. Romcoms work more on the building (or rebuilding) of the relationship between two characters often including their multiple viewpoints in the story. This starts with a warning about what is ahead and while I appreciate that, it is not what I thought I was getting into.

Overall the book is well-written, I appreciated the characters and the honesty in the subjects this dealt with, but as a whole I do not think this book is intended for readers wanting the quirky, cute, sometimes heart wrenching rom-com tropes. Sure, rom-coms sometimes deal with difficult subjects, but this just leaned way more towards contemporary as I've already said. It was good, it was just unexpected. I'm really not sure how I felt after.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

The writing was good, the problem is that this wasn't the story I was expecting (or hoping for). From the start it reads way more like women's fiction than romance, and that tested my patience. My sappy little romance loving heart didn't want to be around for the origin story. I only wanted the good stuff - the butterflies and the chemistry and the falling in love.

I maybe didn't give the story enough time. I was frustrated early on and really did not connect with the meet-cute. I am usually on board for the deeper emotional punches, but my heart didn't settle in on this one so it was a DNF for me at 27%. I may pick it up and try again some other time.

I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to read and review this title.

A gossipy small town and a hot firefighting hero! What's not to love?! I love this book and stayed up until midnight just so I could finish it, which hasn't happened in such a long time. The ensemble of characters were great, the heroine hilarious (I would've been burning my husbands stuff right there with her, tbh), and a really beautiful love story!

Wow! This sweet unassuming floral and pink cover includes a story that packs quite the emotional punch. Violet is a journalist who writes an advice column which is about to be syndicated nation wide when her entire life crumbles around her at the dissolution of her marriage. The book tenderly and vulnerably explores themes of infidelity, infertility, alcoholism, grief, bullying and intergenerational family trauma. I really appreciated the author's note at the beginning of the book offering this as a content warning. I thought the book was extremely well written and enjoyed the "Dear Sweetie" column inserts- I thought that was brilliantly and creatively done to add value and insight into the story. I enjoyed the raw authenticity that the author gave to Violet's situation as she handled heavy topics, the flashbacks that added character development, the overall pacing, and the moments of fun, charm and levity with her friends, mom and Dez, the cute firefighter she befriends. As a mental health professional, I appreciated the healthy coping methods and boundaries Violet set as well as the representation of mental health concerns and therapy. This book was full of emotion and ultimately ended on a hopeful and positive note.

What didn't work for me: I struggled to feel any chemistry between Violet and Dez, her new romantic interest. Their relationship felt rushed unfortunately and was hard for me to become invested in. I also struggled at the lack of closure that she and her ex-husband, Sam, had- this was addressed later on in the book but I think it would have benefited my reading experience to have earlier in the story.

Thank you so much to Berkley Publishing + Berkley Romance + Netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

Based on the cover art, genre, and description I was expecting a different reading experience than what I encountered with this book. The book read as a lot heavier than I anticipated- and while there are moments of levity and a romantic arc, it wasn’t what I typically think of as a romance.

Highlights:

* The writing itself is really well done, the author is clearly talented and one I would try again.
* Premise - I really loved the idea introduced and the Dear Sweetie correspondence, an easy bright spot.
* Authors Note / CW - I love when an author is really thoughtful about the content of what they e written and appreciate them taking a moment to forewarn readers of anything that might be triggering. It was included at the beginning and I can’t applaud this enough.

Things that didn’t work as well for me:

* The romance - I didn’t really connect with the Dez / Violet relationship, it didn’t feel grounded for me.
* Character development- I really only felt like I knew anything about Violet. Everyone else felt flat and not yet developed.


This particular book wasn’t for me, I don’t think im the intended reader. I think the book was well written and this is an author I would try again.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the opportunity to read an advanced copy. Ally thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and freely given.

It was such a satisfying read, honestly, made me feel things that haven’t been felt in a very long time; so reading it was quite an emotional roller coaster ride. I really liked the voice of the heroine, and the MCs wit. However, I absolutely loved following her on her journey to self-love and discovery. Also, the writing was absolutely beautiful and captivating!

I really wasn't sure what I was getting myself into when I started this book. I read the "Dear Reader" in the beginning with the trigger warnings about miscarriage and infidelity and really thought these were just going to be a small part of the romance story - something that happens at the beginning and then the main character falls in love and everything is smooth sailing. It. Was. Not. If You Ask Me was definitely heavier than I anticipated looking at the title, cover, and description.

Libby Hubscher has written a compelling love story about accepting yourself. Sure, Violet ends up with a truly amazing guy - and let's be honest, who wouldn't fall in love with Dez? - but the overarching theme, above infidelity, infertility, and miscarriage, is that "happy" isn't the same for everyone, "perfect" does not exist, and your "worth" is not tied to your perceived flaws. Learning to love who you are and be true to one's self is a hard lesson to learn but I think If You Ask Me has done an incredible job of providing relatable characters.

The description of the book didn't prepare me for the moments of heaviness that I would encounter. I did appreciate the author's warning about the topic of infertility. I was hoping for something lighter.

This was my first read of 2022 and it did not disappoint. I found Violet to be so relatable, charming, and a really fully fleshed out character. This is the kind of romance that has the extra layer of depth. A great read and I cannot wait to get it into the hands of readers.

I appreciate #NetGalley giving me the opportunity to read and review If You Ask Me by Libby Hubscher. I began reading this book on New Years Day and finished it that evening. This was a great way to start the year. I loved reading about Violet, her cheating husband Sam, and her sexy firefighter she meets named Dez. Such a fun read for my first book of the year.

What a delightful surprise this book was! I read a lot of romance novels and lighthearted romantic comedies, and to stumble across one that has that extra layer of depth of character and storyline is increasingly rare. "If You Ask Me" is one of those wonderful finds.

Violet Covington is "Dear Sweetie," an advice columnist for her local newspaper. Her column has the chance be nationally syndicated until her advice goes off the rails after she discovers her husband cheating on her. She has to find a way to fix her column while still remaining true to the new version of herself that she has found, and also juggling an attraction to a hot fireman who works and lives in her neighborhood.

Hubscher goes the extra mile in fleshing out her characters as full human beings, and it makes the story so much more engaging and exciting to read.

Violet’s life turns upside down when she finds her husband in their bed with another woman. “If You Ask Me” tells the story of Violet and how she handles what comes after infidelity. I think this rom com is cute and cleverly written. This book focuses more on the individual rather than another love story. It offers the reader the chance to reflect themselves on their own lives and personal struggles. I found myself relating to Violet and appreciating her story.

This book was super cute. Wasn’t super spicy or anything like that, but definitely a good feel good read. Full review to come!

“ He swept me up into his arms. Just like that. Like I was nothing. Like I was everything. Like he was rescuing me from my inferno of heartache.”

Gosh I love Libby Hubscher.

She writes such beautiful gems. On the surface they seem light and fluffy but they are anything but. She writes about feelings, heartbreaks, weaknesses, faults, mistakes, and struggles.

Her characters are real people. With real faults and real problems. And I appreciate that so much.


“You are flawed but you are still worthy of love.”

I loved seeing a main character transparently and authentically own up to her mistakes and resolve to be better and do better. I could identify so deeply with Violet.

I loved Kyra and the fact that she called on her bullshit and didn’t let Violet get away with it for one second. I loved the threads of forgiveness that were woven throughout this sweet story.

And Dez. Good lord. What a good, kind, and humble SMOKESHOW. Swoon.

4 stars.

Thank you to the publisher for gifting me with a copy of this novel. All opinions are my own.

I ugly cried reading Libby Hubscher's Meet Me in Paradise earlier this year and I just knew If You Ask Me would probably make me cry, too. I was right.

If You Ask Me is the story of Violet, an advice columnist, who discovered her husband in bed with another woman. Understandably, this leaves her reeling and soon, the always composed Violet is spiraling. When she starts a bonfire using some of her cheating husband's most valued possessions, she meets the extremely attractive and sweet fireman, Dez. He's pretty much perfect, but Violet is scared. She thought she had a perfect marriage but was obviously wrong. How could she possibly gamble with her heart again?

In my opinion, If You Ask Me was more a story about Violet finding herself rather than a typical romance. That is not to say that Dez was not a worthy love interest, simply that Violet had to deal with a lot before she was ready to go all in with him.

I found Violet's actions frustrating at times and I feel as though she was too kind to some people who purposely caused her harm, but I understood that it was all part of her healing process. I enjoyed reading about her growth and watching her get her second chance at a happy ending.

If You Ask Me was an emotional story about learning to live and trust yourself after the ultimate betrayal and finally believing that you are worthy of love.

If You Ask Me is a very decent romantic comedy. Good writing and good characters and the use of an advice columnist who finds herself in the sort of situation she advises on makes for a good plot. It made me laugh, it made me happy to see good friendships and it did a great job demonstrating the insidious ways that romantic partners can undercut each other. The themes of love, friendship and acceptance were totally on target. If I could change anything, it would be to shorten up the life lesson sermonettes near the end of the book when Violet is getting her life together. They were totally on target, just a little long and in your face. Overall, recommendable, for sure.

I have a lot of feelings about this book. I loved the fact that Sweetie/Violet makes some (a lot) of mistakes. She's human and I know I cope poorly sometimes. But, I just didn't feel her and Dez. I loved the friendships that were focused on and that would have been a better story for me than including a romantic angle.

If You Ask Me by Libby Hubscher
Wow don’t let the colorful cover fool you! I am 100% the person that will read a book based on their cover. I picked this one up trying to cure my reading slump and I could not PUT. THIS. DOWN. Violet has an advice column under the name of Dear Sweetie, her advice revolves around addressing any situation in the politest manner. What happens when her world is falling apart and she’s sad and angry?
Attention… Sweetie has gone rogue! Sweetie begins to give wild advice and partake in scandalous activities that lead to an illegal street bonfire by burning her husband’s expensive suits. Then the hottie firefighter comes to the rescue, ahhhh Dez, what a gentleman. While everyone wants the proper and polished Violet back, Dez appreciates the real Dez.
I appreciated the real-life situations that Violet is part of and how she must find herself and be okay to be happy. It took Violet sinking to the lowest point in her life to rebuild herself and rewrite her story that can lead to authentic happiness. Simply a beautiful story about life.

If You Ask Me is not just a romance. It's a deeper look into how relationships are constructed, and when they go wrong, asks the question, why? Violet arrives home early one day to find the unthinkable...her husband in bed with another woman. As she goes through the stages of grief, from anger to denial to I-want-to-hurt-the-jerk, she starts to really examine her marriage. What did she allow? What should she have fought for? As an advice columnist, she had to look hard at her own life, before she could give the best advice to the strangers who write to her.

Taking the journey with Violet as she risks her heart again with her firefighter neighbour, Dez, was like helping a new friend through a rough patch. Your heart breaks for her, at the same time you're rooting for her! The author does a great job of not victimizing Violet, but giving her a chance to grow, change and become stronger.

I loved the story, loved the characters, and loved the supporting characters.

This book was okay. Overall I did like the writing and the plot, but I wasn't a big fan of the main character Violet. I couldn't really connect with her. This book just wasn't meant for me.