This one was cute and the author writes well. It dragged in parts but it was very worth it. I would like to read more about this author.

This was a sweet romance that restores faith that not all men are complete jerks. Dez was the best. He was thoughtful, kind, and patient. He is the epitome of book boyfriend. So incredibly sweet and willing to help Violet through her self esteem issues and her troubles. She obviously has a lot to work through and has trust issues that she can't seem to get past. But watching her learn to love again, not only someone else, but herself, was refreshing and encouraging.

There is some triggering/mature content. Closed door scenes, infidelity, substance abuse and miscarriage. Some of the scenes are tough to read, but add so much to the story!

Violet Covington has made a name for herself by writing a successful advice column…well, more or less. See, Violet writes her column as Dear Sweetie-anonymously dishing out tasteful opinions to anyone asking for her two cents.

Then one day Violet comes home to the unthinkable, a cheating spouse. Suddenly the advice is on the other foot, so to speak. Frustrated from having her world upended, Violet takes her tirade to task via her very public platform. Before long the sweet Sweetie ain’t so sweet, serving up brutally honest advice.

As it turns out, the readers eat up the new sour Sweetie, even when she makes faux pas after faux pas. But the more Violet reinvents herself, the more she’s reminded even the best advice givers need a helping hand every once and awhile.

A marked departure from her romantic debut, Meet Me In Paradise, author @libbyhubscher delivers a solid sophomore effort with If You Ask Me. While in large part a story of romantic redemption, the advice column that Violet pens sprinkles a wide range of surprising insight into a variety of hard hitting issues. Coupling this with the themes of self discovery, friendship and second chances, I aptly advise you check out If You Ask Me for yourself.

Well, you know, thanks to insomnia, I get some reading done between 1-4am and If You Ask Me was perfect for middle of the night reading. It is the story of Violet, a woman who writes an advice column in the local paper and, in the wake of discovery of her husband’s infidelities, has to pull her life together. Enter a hunky firefighter and you have a perfect warm fuzzy romcom filled with misunderstandings and mixups, witty banter, prat falls and things going a bit off the rails. I love a good story about a woman getting knocked down by life but finding her strength and coming back stronger than ever. This was a cute one and while it didn’t have me in a puddle of tears like her first book, Meet Me In Paradise, instead, I was grinning like a dork and snorting. There are some trigger warnings as heavier topics are discussed such as mental health issues, alcoholism, infertility and miscarriages so it isn’t all happy froth. It tackles real issues head on and with a sense of relatability and realism.

𝘚𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘵, 𝘧𝘶𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨!

I love discovering new authors, especially if their books are awesome, and I loved everything about this story. Funny, adorable characters, heartwarming, sexy, fast-paced and uplifting. I read it in one sitting, this is the type of rom-coms that I love.

Thank you Berkley Romance and NetGalley for this gifted copy.

𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦: 𝘙𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦, 𝘊𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘓𝘪𝘵, 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘺, 𝘈𝘥𝘶𝘭𝘵 𝘍𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.

https://www.instagram.com/booksandcoffeemx/

OKAY. Found my 2022 book boyfriend : DEZ!!!!

This guy. I just can’t even. He was the absolute sweetest guy in the world. Too good to be realistic?? I DON’T CARE!!!

Hubscher’s debut last year, Meet Me in Paradise, was a 2021 fave and I am now officially a super fan! I’m OBSESSED with this book. Like her previous, there is a heavy focus on the heroine’s growth and it is very emotional, which I obviously love. Violet is an advice columnist and I couldn’t get enough of her letters throughout the book! I definitely teared up more than once, but she had me giggling almost as many times. There is tightly closed door steam, but such sweet chemistry. 💕

•Uber sweet fireman hero (remember I already called him for my book BF - you can look, but don’t touch)
•Heroine in crisis
•Great friend groups and a sweet Mom
•So. Many. Emotions.

Some big trigger ⚠️: infertility, adultery, suicide

This was a sweet women's fiction book that explored a lot of topics through a "Dear Abby" type of column. I really enjoyed it. Towards the end I started to lose a little interest as it took a while to wrap things up and get to the ending. I would have loved a little more exploration with the romance in this one. I do enjoy Libby's writing but this one didn't quite live up to her debut book!

If You Ask Me is a fairly standard romance with some comedy employing a few familiar tropes. Violet is an advise column writer in North Carolina who comes home from work early to find her husband of 12 years, Sam, in bed with a young, sexy neighbor, Shelby. Viv is, of course, devastated at Sam’s callous betrayal and is shocked when he tells her that he loves Shelby and wants to try to make a go of their new relationship. Viv kicks Sam out of their house and proceeds to start a bonfire in the street with firecrackers to burn his clothes and signed Michael Jordan poster. Neighbors calls fire department, Dez sexy to-good-to-be-true fireman arrives and douses the bonfire but not the sparks that obviously fly between them.
Some funny stuff happens (mostly with her editor Kyra), some not so funny stuff happens (Viv’s miscarriage and infertility), and some expected stuff happens (Sam comes crawling back to Viv and Dez and Viv fall in love). The story is cute but not particularly original. A quick read and good distraction for a rainy day.

This one has some major TW so make sure to read those if need be. Vi break down and hell I don't blame her but she goes a little overboard (not only to lie I would of sold the Star Wars and went on a vacation) It also take most of the book for her to find her self and true friends and people. Dez is the hot firefighter that comes at her lowest times and loves and supports her. AKA he is a dream book boyfriend.

This one is light romance with a lot of other drama and hard memories.

4 stars

Thanks Berkley for a copy of this one!

Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 💫 If You Ask Me by Libby Hubscher

Violet is the anonymous advice columnist best known as Dear Sweetie, she has all the answers on how to politely handle any and every situation, until she discovers her husband in bed with a neighbour. Furious she leaves her filter at the door and starts being honest with her reader and with herself. Enters Dez, an unexpected ally and smoking hot fire fighter.

CW: infidelity, infertility, miscarriage, anxiety, panic attack (on-page), fat shaming & body insecurities and alcohol abuse.

Women's Fiction with a romance sub-plot: This book was lovely and it dealt with incredibly delicate subject and I loved how the author didn't sugar coat anything, let the messy consequences of Violet's behavior be complicated and awkward. But she also didn't drag it out for the sake of drama, she let the emotions play out as Violet encountered them. I really enjoyed Dex, he was sweet and honest and exactly what Violet needed, I loved how he reached out to her, making sure she was okay after their first encounter. I also liked how Violet was conscious of her self-destroying behavior, and just let it happen to her, like a step she had to cross to heal, it was beautifully done and very self-aware.

Thank you @berkleyromance for gifting me a digital advanced reader's copy via @netgalley . As Always, all thoughts and opinions are honest and my own.

#LibbyHubscher #IfYouAskMe #BerkleyRomance #Netgalley

Mixed feelings about this one.
This is women’s fiction so don’t go into this thinking it’s a romance or you’ll be disappointed.
The story starts with Violet finding out her husband is cheating on her and this sets the rest of the novel’s plot into motion.
Violet was a difficult character to like at times. I wanted to sympathize with her because of all the things she’d been through (check trigger warnings at beginning of book!) but she just wasn’t that likeable in my opinion.
I also didn’t find her love interest Dez to be anything memorable. He was sweet but strangely around all the time.
Overall a light sweet read that touches upon some tough women’s issues.

While there are some heavier topics and triggers in this (thoughtfully explained by the author in the intro to the book), the overall feel of the book is relatively light. The romance that sparks between advice columnist Violet and firefighter Dez is very sweet and really shows Violet what a relationship can be made of, even if it is a little instalovey for my taste. I liked the way this story showed just how messy we all can be when we are getting through something new and hard- even if our job is giving advice.

If You Ask Me is a heartfelt and heavy read that Libby handles navigating with care. The exploration of grief and loss as both Violet and Dez find themselves is authentic are real.

Violet, an advice columnist, life implodes when she finds her husband cheating on her. And as her life implodes, she goes rogue in the aftermath and things heat up with Dez, a firefighter. Violet was a mess as she dealt with the aftermath of finding her husband cheating on her. I appreciated that Violet's journey was full of vulnerability and honesty as she stumbled through self-destructive behaviors and finally stood up for herself. Dez was a cinnamon roll that was perfect for helping Violet find her inner strength. I appreciated how his journey through grief was handled and that there was more to him than first met the eye.

This mix of women's fiction with romance is heartfelt and witty. I loved the addition of some of Violet's advice columns and flashbacks that enhanced the narrative.

CW: cheating (on-page), infertility/miscarriage, toxic mother-in-law, alcohol abuse, gaslighting, grief, inappropriate touching (past)

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 Stars

“You hate these people who hurt you, and you hate yourself. You don’t want to look at yourself in the mirror. Do it anyway. Look hard. You were never perfect. Or always right. You made mistakes. You hurt people and yourself. You were vengeful. You drank too much. You moved too fast. You were thoughtless. And that’s okay. You can forgive yourself and you can ask for forgiveness. The ugly parts don’t make you any less beautiful. You are flawed, but you’re still worthy of love.”

Violet Covington has it all: a wonderful husband, a nice house in the suburbs, and a job she loves. Everything seems perfect until it isn’t anymore, and Violet’s life is crumbling around her. After she catches her husband cheating on her, Violet spirals out of control. She begins drinking more than she should, acting out in her column, Dear Sweetie, and even lashing out at the people around her. Violet’s life is a mess, and she shouldn’t be looking to jump into a relationship, but when she meets a local firefighter she can’t resist how safe and happy he makes her feel. Will Violet be able to trust another person again after having her heart ripped open by the one person who promised to stand by her forever?

This book was extremely heavy, and there were a lot of hard topics discussed such as cheating, alcoholism, and infertility. It was hard not to feel for what Violet was going through when her jerk of a husband decided their vows didn’t mean anything to him. So, while she may have acted terribly when lashing out I could understand and feel her emotional pain. She was experiencing a traumatic event. Dez was a strong and loving supporter to Violet, and I think the fact that she never thought she deserved him because of how broken she feels was heartbreaking. I watched as Dez helped Violet pick up the pieces of her life, made her smile, and allowed her to see her worth.

I guess my issue with this right now is that there should have been a touch more humor or something to balance out the heaviness in this book. Violet was very funny in a self-deprecating way, but it felt more like she was masking her pain. Yes, there were funny lines, but I feel like I felt wrecked after reading it. It was extremely emotional, and if you are dealing with issues like cheating and infidelity then be warned that this book will pull at your heartstrings a little bit.

If you enjoy stories like those of Kate Clayborn and Emily Henry then give this book a try but be forewarned that you will be on an emotional rollercoaster.

~ Michelle

If You Ask Me takes us to North Carolina, where Violet Covington writes an advice column called Dear Sweetie. She finds out that her column is up for syndication, so she leaves work early, excited to share the great news with her husband, Sam. Except instead of surprising him with her career news, she’s shocked to discover Sam in bed with another woman. This sets off a painful separation, and Violet processes the end of her 12-year marriage as well as can be expected: with anger, embarrassment, too much alcohol, and some vaguely illegal pyrotechnics. Throw in some overdue confrontations, unexpected drama with her column, and a possible rebound relationship with a firefighter named Dez, and Violet is in over her head for a few months as she untangles messes and works on self-love.

I’ve mostly seen If You Ask Me marketed as a romance. However, like Libby Hubscher’s previous book, I will warn anyone looking for a quick, cute romance that this might not be the right fit. While it does indeed offer a sweet love story, If You Ask Me is also infused with drama. It might be better described as contemporary fiction or women’s fiction (though both are rather vague terms that don’t do this book justice, either). The novel deals with themes of infidelity, infertility, and alcoholism, and Violet’s journey through grief and personal growth takes center stage. The romance is present – and instrumental to the story – though it is secondary.

Violet is a real and relatable character. She’s intelligent, ambitious, and determined. However, she also has her insecurities and allows people to walk all over her. Upon learning that her marriage is over, she (understandably) becomes a bit reckless and self-destructive. She hides her shame and misery with on-point makeup and too many drinks. Though she normally tucks away her true opinions and covers up her vulnerable side, she’s now expressing herself in direct and chaotic ways: some light arson, a little fender bender, and some public declarations that she actually meant to keep private.

As she spirals downward, Violet’s actions are equally inspiring (yass! get back at your evil mother-in-law!) and pitiful (no! please don’t embarrass yourself or hurt yourself!). By the halfway point, Violet has gotten herself into some big messes, burned some important bridges, and reached a point where it’s time for her get on a better path. The latter half of If You Ask Me shows her working on loving herself and taking care of herself.

On the one hand, I love the support group she has with her friends and her mother. Violet isn’t alone, and people like Kyra and her mom keep Violet grounded and supported, even as her life turns upside down. In both cases, Violet learns to not take them for granted and to place greater trust in them.

On the other hand, a new man in her life is gently guiding Violet forward, too. Dez is a perfect hero… maybe too perfect. From their first meeting, he’s consistently thoughtful, understanding, and generous. He listens to Violet and encourages her to be open and honest. He’s remarkably kind and supportive. Dez may feel a bit unrealistic or one-dimensional – surely no one is that perfect?! However, he says himself that he’s a man of multitudes. Whatever his bad sides are, we don’t see much of them here. If this book were more firmly in the romance category, there might have been room for dual POVs; this may have helped Dez feel more authentic and multifaceted. Alas, the format of If You Ask Me is more focused on Violet’s journey, so Dez is forced to be on his best behavior at all times. I can overlook it here; he is truly a wholesome hero.

In addition to the main story, I also love the inclusion of some Dear Sweetie questions and answers. They’re fun to read, to be sure, but they also provide extra insight into Violet’s state of mind at the time of her writing. They were a great addition to the novel. (Side note: In the 2019 YA historical fiction novel The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee, the main character also writes an advice column, in her case as Miss Sweetie. If you’re looking for more advice-filled novels, consider that one!)

One final, fun observation: If you read Meet Me in Paradise, you’ll likely smile at the little Easter egg included in If You Ask Me. At one point, Sam and Violet had vacationed in Saba. I wonder if they happened to see Marin or Lucas while they were there? It’s possible!

If You Ask Me starts off with some heartwrenching scenes, but after Violet works through some of her hurt and anger, it grows into a tender story of self-worth, self-care, and self-love. It also offers a beautiful romance with a kindhearted firefighter, a winding career path, and plenty of laughs along the way. This novel features some of everything and is an affecting story that’s sure to touch your heart.

It all started with Sam blowing Violet's life into chaos. When a book begins with a rough start, I take a breather and then come back to finish it. This was one of those. I thought this would be a light read, but it turned out to be one with heavy themes.

Violet is the brains behind the popular advice column Dear Sweetie, and very few people know about it. She has good news and can't wait to share it with Sam, her husband, but that doesn't go as planned. Instead, it turns her world upside down and takes her down a rocky path.

Dez, the handsome firefighter, comes to Violet's rescue and does his best to help her through these trying times.

Despite the tough topics, I read the entire book, and I was glad I did. It made me realize how relatable Violet is — what happened to her happens to individuals around us, and it takes one act of kindness to steer them in the right direction.


TW - infertility, miscarriage, anxiety, infidelity, and alcohol abuse.

Thank you, Berkley Romance and NetGalley, for the free ARC for this book.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

If You Ask Me follows Violet, who pens a popular advice column called Dear Sweetie in North Carolina. She's loves giving polite advice to help strangers out with their life situations, but her feelings change once she discovers her husband has been cheating on her. Suddenly, her filter goes out the window, and she starts giving raw and honest advice to air her own frustrations.

Out of rage, she burns all of her exes belongings in a front yard bonfire. A hot fire fighter named Dez appears to douse the flames, and things start to heat up.

Although this book was a fun romcom read, it also dealt with serious topics. Such as: infertility and self discovery. I really enjoyed that aspect, since a lot of people in my life have/are dealing with the same thing. It was refreshing to see that written in fiction.

Overall, I enjoyed this story and will be picking up more from the author in the future.

What happens when it’s your job to give advice but your own life is in shambles? Violet, the advice columnist at the center of If You Ask Me finds out when her “perfect” life implodes. Libby Hubscher illustrates her heroine’s journey from her quest for perfection to the realization that happy doesn’t mean perfect.

3.5/5 stars

Violet understandably freaks out when she catches her husband cheating. Not only does she start writing more candid advice, but she decides to burn his belongings in the front yard. When the fire department arrives, she meets local firefighter Dez, who becomes one of the few people to accept her as she is, not how she thinks she should be seen.

Violet deals with lots of judgemental people, from her husband to her family, her neighbors and even occasionally her coworkers. She
has been stepped on for years, and she constantly worries what everyone thinks. She also hasn’t fully dealt with her own grief surrounding her miscarriages and infertility.

This book give a realistic look at the scars left by infertility; it was really good, but parts were difficult to read. As a whole, this wasn’t exactly the lighthearted book I was expecting, but it had some amusing moments. I also wouldn’t label it a romcom. It’s really a book about Violet’s journey and self discovery. Dez isn’t a well developed character, and I wished he felt more central to the book. But, since this is almost solely Violet’s story, maybe he doesn’t need to be.

If You Ask Me was a good book, and it reads more as women’s fiction than romance. Violet gets her HEA, but her journey is the star of the novel.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Rom com that also explores deeper subjects

I enjoyed this complex story very much. Violet Covington writes a popular anonymous advice column in a South Carolina publication, both in print and online. When she finds out the column might be syndicated she rushes home to share the news with her husband of twelve years but is devastated by what she finds.

Violet goes on a mini rampage and is helped out of a few scrapes by handsome, hunky firefighter Dez and she tries to decide which direction her life should now go in.

This story wasn't just a fluff piece but explored some difficult subjects including infidelity, infertility, miscarriage and more so be warned if these could be trigger subjects for you. I thought they were handled well by the author.

I highly recommend this story.

I received this book from Berkley Publishing through Net Galley in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review.

Review: This was a fantastic Contemporary Adult book, that I really enjoyed reading! And I loved the epilogue at the end. Overall, this is definitely a book I would recommend to anyone who thinks itsounds interesting!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher.