3.5/5⭐️

When Ally (a 26-year-old young woman) passes from pancreatic cancer (1st chapter), she leaves behind a bucket list (5 items) where her fiancé Charlie and her best friend Becca (who incidentally hate each other) should spread her ashes. They decide once a year on Ally’s birthday to complete an item. As the years pass, they move forward somewhat emotionally but are stuck in other areas of their lives. As they meet each year, they are alternately combative and at peace with the other as they work through their troubles. I’ll stop here so I won’t spoil anything.

I really wanted to like this one more than I did. My issues were twofold. The book was entirely too long, and I actually began looking forward to the ending (not a good sign for me). And I actually didn’t like either Charlie or Becca for the majority of the story. They both felt too self-centered and/or passive and immature for most of the book, although I did see some maturity growth toward the end…it was long overdue.

While there were some funny and heart wrenching moments, and overall the story was good, in the end I was left feeling “meh”.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK/One More Chapter for providing me the free early arc of Ten Years for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

I enjoyed this book and could not put it down. What was such a sad story turned so great and I love enemies to lovers.

I received an advance copy of Ten Years through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Ten Years was the story of three friends Becca, Ally and Charlie who all attended university together. Becca and Ally were best friends from childhood and Ally and Charlie were engaged to be married. The kicker is that despite their one time hook up, Becca and Charlie can’t stand each other. Ally is the glue that holds things together until she becomes ill and passes away. Her dying wishes were for Becca and Charlie to scatter her ashes at her “bucket list” locations. Their relationship evolved as time passes. This story was a “brain candy” beach read that was predictable but endearing. If you are looking for a quick, easy read then this book is for you.

This was such a lovely read, it wasn’t too soppy, but it was a perfect romance read!

My heart truly belonged to these characters while I read the book, and the book on the whole made my heart ache, it’s written so well!

Unfortunately, I just couldn't take to the characters in this book. Their behaviour was frustrating, and although I liked the premise and the way the author developed an emotional beginning, I couldn't take to the protagonists' personalities.

This novel seemed to be no more than a compendium of foul language and disgusting behavior by a bunch of new agers in England.

I forced myself to read 15% before calling it quits. Definitely not my kind of book.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher, Harper Collins UK, in exchange for an honest review.
Sadly, I’m not able to recommend this book to anyone.

This is such a rollercoaster ride of emotions. Well written, engaging and one that will stay with me

I thought I might try this out, but it wasn't for me. I usually read YA, though, so that might be why.

When a book makes you feel absolutely every emotion under the sun you know it’s a great book! I couldn’t put this one down, so I didn’t, and I flew through it in a few hours. If you’re looking for a great book to read this year that covers difficult situations and has more emotions than you think you’re capable of feeling then this is definitely the book for you.

Ten Years by Pernille Hughes is an emotional, haunting and realistic read. The book follows the journey of Becca and Charlie, who were Ally's best friend and fiance, respectively. Ally has left behind a bucket list for her lovely loves to complete. As they tick off the list over the years, we get an understanding of who they are; their stories, their anchor in Ally and prevailing circumstances. Becca and Charlie begin at loggerheads, but their hearts are drawn and softened towards each other as life goes on. The dialogues written by Pernille resonate and leave a mark. The push and pull between the protagonists reflect a range of human emotions, and the ending is gratifying. This book ignited a rollercoaster of emotions while absorbing every word. This won't be my last book by Pernille Hughes, and I look forward to reading more of her work. A 4-star read.

A big thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, for giving me an ARC. This honest review is left voluntarily.

A truly lovely and original tale following Becca and Charlie, who are struggling in the wake of their beloved Ally’s death. But when a message from beyond the grave arrives one year after her passing, these former nemeses must team up to complete Ally’s bucket list.
I had a blast with these characters and highly recommend!

I adored this book. I was constantly rooting for Charlie and Becca and wanting their relationship to flourish even though they have started off in the wring foot and don't get along,
They both are figuring out how to live with the loss Ally and the grief in intense.
It was a bit slow in parts but still fun to read.

Oh my goodness, this book! EPIC. I was intrigued from the very first page as to how this story would progress as we met the three main characters, Charlie, Becca and Ally. And oh how I loved it! I felt all the emotions while reading, happy, sad, laugh out loud and frustrated as boy could Becca and Charlie do some silly things that made me want to shake them!
An addictive read that follows a friend’s wishes over five years for her fiancé and best friend to follow and their journey together, and individually for this period of time and beyond.
Thank you to the author and One More Chapter for the early copy I received.

3.5 stars

I enjoyed this slow burn, enemies to lovers story of Charlie and Becca; brought together after the loss of their shared love Ally.

This book dealt with the themes of grief and live after loss well but I found the characters themselves somewhat infuriating. Whilst they did appear to have chemistry, their relationship development felt a bit forced (although arguably it was forced as per the plot).

I liked the concept of the book being told in chapters divided into each year, that helped with keeping track of what was happening over the ten year period. There are no real surprises in the ending but what are you expecting from a romance fiction book otherwise?

Easy to read and kept me engaged but nothing particularly outstanding for me to revisit.

With thanks to Harper Collins/Netgalley for the ARC

I would say I think this book could have had a better execution, but it was not a bad book. I definitely enjoyed parts of it and do not regret reading it.

A nice long haul romance, an enemies to friends to lovers story with a few surprises along the way. I liked both characters the feistiness, the honesty, and how they each changed over the years. The opening chapters, focussing on death and grief, almost put me off reading on but I am glad I did.

Charlie and Ally are engaged to be married but Ally dies and she has a bucket list she wants Charlie and her best friend, Becca to carry out over 10 years. Becca and Charlie despise each other but do this for their best friend. This book has all the feels and emotions!! I loved the whole premise of this book and loved the characters. Every single one of them!! I will definitely be looking for more books by this author. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review.

Found the 'dead best friends boyfriend' trope a bit odd. The slow burn was real, but the climax didn't hit the way it should have. It felt more literary than romance and I don't think I'd reread it or recommend it as such.

I love the premise of this book! I love the idea of two enemies being brought together by a shared loved one after her death. I was rooting for Becca and Charlie throughout the entire story.
My only complaint is that the story drags a bit, especially since it takes place over ten full years. There's a lot to cover there so it can be a bit slow and a bit repetitive.
However, the story is beautiful, tender, and lovely. I recommend this book for romance readers, especially if you like long spanning generational books.

"Love at first sight was also a theoretical myth. Love at first sight only really became so if it lasted."

Becca and Charlie only have one thing in common - Ally.

Ally decided Becca was her best friend when they were ten, and was there through her childhood, through her parents divorce and neglect, and her constant failed auditions and bad jobs. So when Ally started dating Charlie at university, they got along for her sake.

But when they lose her, she leaves something behind for them to find - a bucket list of sorts for them to finish for her. So as much as they were ready to say goodbye for good, they're going to be together for years to come because they'd do anything for Ally.

But who knows what's really at the end of the path if they just let themselves go down it together?

"We're entitled to mourn as we need to and rebuild ourselves."

Ten Years is a story of loss, of love and of learning - set over the course of a decade after Ally dies. The book read like a fever dream, little passages of life - marking the moments they thought would matter and the ones that really did.

Becca and Charlie had a vivid, emotive relationship - the venom between them made me physically cringe at times, their intense hatred for each other glaringly obvious. At times their behaviour throughout was unbearable to read, and I found their fights infuriating, but at the same time, love, greif and anger can make people act in the most irrational of ways. Despite their selfishness and juvenile behaviour, I did love how naturally their relationship grew and the peaks and valleys that happen as we grow older and grow as a person.

However, their intense feelings of loss, and the countless different ways people greave were written perfectly, with sensitivity and insight - and was handled with refreshing honesty and authenticity.

Of course, I saw where we were going - but the journey there was all the fun. With some utterly hilarious moments, a lot of heartbreak and the painfully relatable tale of two young people who have no idea what they want in life, this is a book with a lot of heart.

"A heart makes room. It isn't a one-in-one-out deal."