Unfortunately, I had to DNF this one. But I read 40% and feel I can provide an appropriate review.

The writing was fine, the main female character sucked. The MFC was self critical and oozed insecurities, which would've been alright if she wasn't so judgemental and harsh on everyone else. I mean, she felt bad and was hurt when someone saw her and just immediately said "No" and walked away, but she didn't have a problem being super judgemental of everyone else? Wild.

“Whoever decided swiping a screen was a good way to match with someone on a dating app had a wild sense of humor. ”
Here are reasons to read the Contemporary book:

Bad Dates - After Haleigh has had a lot of bad dates, she gives up
Best friend - besides she would rather hang with her best friend Jack anyway
Family Challenge - but Jack has an idea to get the family off Haleigh’s back
10 Dates - the 5 of them have the opportunity to choose 2 people each for her to date, 10 dates total

This book is the third in the author’s universe, centered around plus size women. Having now read 2 of the 3, I can say that I really connect to not only the portrayal of her characters but also the style of writing. Sometimes with contemporary I get a little bored, but these books are really thoughtful in how they explore the additional challenges of being plus sized. The characters in this book have social anxiety, among other things, and I thought it was just a great representation.

This book was cute and sweet albeit a little bit predictable. The main female character was likable and I appreciated the author’s sentiment about being plus size and how that wasn’t going to be a main part of this story even though that was Haleigh’s situation.

A book I literally chose from the title and the cover! It didn’t disappoint!

I immediately thought, “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” because of the title similarity. It was not at all the same of course but the RomCom vibe was just as awesome. I am a larger girl and though dating today isn’t something I’ve had to do, I can imagine that the horrid dates she experienced in this book are not impossible. It was fun and the character development had you rooting for the protagonist from the start as she is pulling her life together and appeasing her tight-nit and worried family. She is very hard on herself and assumes her family thinks the worst of her but as the book continues, she is more confident and realizes she was assuming too much. Her support people are the best, and Jack.. You’ll be cheering Haliegh on all the way through!

I will be trying other Jenny L. Howe reads for sure!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was a fun and entertaining read about a woman who agrees to allow her friends and family to set her up on dates. Throughout the story, she not only goes on the dates, but she is forced to start looking for a job with a more stable income, and in general, make her life less of a "mess."

Long Story Short
Haleigh is in a rut with her dating life and she has to find a date for her sister's quickly approaching engagement party. Her friends and family don't understand how hard the dating scene is, so she makes a deal with them: they can set up on two dates each and if none of them work out, they will agree to not give her a hard time about taking a dating sabbatical. Most of the dates are horrible, but the last one ends up being with her long time best friend with whom she had a brief fling years ago. Of course he ends up being THE ONE and they get together at the end.

The Good
Haleigh, Jack, Brian, and all of her friends were likeable and I was rooting for Haleigh throughout the book.

The Bad
Maybe other people disagree, but I can't imagine having family members that would be that involved and disapproving of my dating life. Haleigh also stressed me out quite a bit with her lifestyle; I can't imagine living without a consistent income stream. I also was a little disappointed at first that things wouldn't be working out with Brian, but then he said he wasn't a reader and I lost interest in him. Finally, I thought the ending was a little anti-climatic, even though it did tie everything up neatly with a bow.

Overall Takeaway
While predictable, it was a fun and easy read. The characters get an 8 out of 10 and the plot gets a 6.5 out of 10, with an overall grade of a C.

Because I am rating less than three stars, I will be sharing a post about this book without a rating on my instagram. I will be publishing on 12/10 to alert readers to this book and highlight parts of the story line that they may be interested in reading. For me I did not love the main character, her energy felt exhausting. I think the premise of the book was cute but fell flat for me.

Hailey and Jack are funny, steamy and and all-round great couple. Hailey's journey of self acceptance was so realistic that she's really relatable to a real life situation.

I really enjoyed this story. I love the inclusiveness of a fat leading lady and I truly love the friendship between Haleigh and Jack that spanned decades. They are so fun together. The slow burn, the pining, the chemistry that sizzles off the page is done very well here. I'm not usually a huge fan of friends to lovers, but this book pulls that trope off soo well.


Thanks to the publisher, author, and Netgalley for the ARC!

Jenny L. Howe’s How to Get a Life in Ten Dates is a heartwarming, funny, and relatable rom-com that brings a fresh twist to the best-friends-to-lovers trope. With a witty premise, charming characters, and plenty of emotional depth, this book offers readers a delightful journey through the ups and downs of modern dating, while tackling issues of body positivity, self-worth, and vulnerability.

At the center of the story is Haleigh Berkshire, a 25-year-old plus-size woman who’s reached her limit with the challenges and exhaustion of dating. For years, she’s carried the weight of societal expectations, family pressures, and the nagging feeling that her romantic future is bleak. Her frustration is compounded by the unrequited feelings she has for her best friend, Jack, after a college mishap that left their romantic potential seemingly off-limits. This dynamic between Haleigh and Jack sets up the emotional tension that drives much of the novel’s plot.

Haleigh’s decision to challenge her family and friends to set her up on ten dates as a way to prove that dating just isn’t for her is a fun and unique hook. What starts as a lighthearted, slightly cynical experiment quickly evolves into something more when Haleigh finds herself pleasantly surprised by a few of the dates. The dates themselves offer humor, awkwardness, and charm in equal measure, making for some truly entertaining reading. As Haleigh begins to enjoy herself, the story moves beyond mere comedic antics and begins to explore what it means to rediscover hope and openness in love.

Jack, the loyal and protective best friend, is both a supportive and complicating force in Haleigh’s journey. Initially, he plays the role of wingman and confidante, but as Haleigh’s dating life starts to take off, Jack’s behavior becomes increasingly unpredictable. His sudden critical eye towards Haleigh’s suitors, uninvited appearances during her dates, and eventual decision to throw his own name into the mix make for a deliciously complicated love story. The push-pull dynamic between Jack and Haleigh is expertly written, capturing the emotional risks of crossing the line between friendship and romance.

What sets How to Get a Life in Ten Dates apart is its thoughtful portrayal of Haleigh’s internal struggles. As a plus-size woman, she battles insecurities and societal judgment, and Howe navigates these themes with care and nuance. Haleigh’s growth throughout the novel is truly satisfying—she doesn’t just find love, she finds her own sense of self-worth and confidence. The story emphasizes that her value isn’t tied to her size or whether she finds a partner, but to her own happiness and sense of fulfillment.

The chemistry between Haleigh and Jack is palpable, and their transition from friends to something more feels authentic and earned. The emotional stakes are high—Haleigh’s fear of losing Jack as a friend is real, and it adds depth to their budding romance. Jack, for his part, is a flawed but lovable character whose own fears of rejection and vulnerability come to light as the story progresses. Their journey is about more than just romance; it’s about learning to be honest with themselves and each other.

If there’s a small critique to be made, it’s that some of the dates, while entertaining, feel a bit formulaic at times. However, this is easily overlooked given the overall charm and humor that permeates the story. The side characters—Haleigh’s friends, family, and various suitors—add color and fun to the narrative, ensuring that the pacing never drags.

Final Thoughts:
How to Get a Life in Ten Dates is a delightful and heartwarming read that will leave you smiling long after the final page. Jenny L. Howe has crafted a love story that’s equal parts fun and emotionally resonant, filled with humor, charm, and the tender vulnerability of navigating love as a plus-size woman. Haleigh’s journey to finding both love and self-worth is relatable, inspiring, and thoroughly enjoyable. Fans of rom-coms with strong friendships, slow-burn romance, and a dash of self-discovery will absolutely adore this book.

Haleigh's journey through the tumultuous world of dating, while harboring feelings for her lifelong best friend Jack, takes a comedic turn when she consents to a series of 10 dates arranged by her loved ones. Amidst the chaos of these encounters, Haleigh discovers her true self. The premise promised a laugh-out-loud romcom experience, yet the narrative's potential was hindered by Haleigh's portrayal as a rather vexing character. Despite the story's shortcomings, the conclusion was satisfying, and the representation of a plus-size protagonist was a refreshing touch. While the novel had its moments, a dash more of excitement would have been welcome. Nevertheless, the author's style has piqued my interest, and I'm keen to explore their other works.

Haleigh has had a hard time dating for awhile and she’s secretly still in love with her life long best friend, Jack, so she agrees to let her family and friends set her up on 10 dates. Some of the dates are truly chaotic and through it all, Haleigh learns who she is.
Haleigh was the most annoying protagonist. She spends the entire book complaining about how her family puts her down but they are actually just supportive and worried about real practicalities of being an adult, like health insurance and paying rent. Haleigh was the perfect example of a privileged white woman who thinks her life is sooo hard. My second issue with the book is the fact that Jack and Haleigh DO NOT work as a couple. When he is anxious, he wants organization and Haleigh is complete chaos. Neither of them had changed but they simply decide to give their relationship another try. Third, Jack only chose to pursue Haleigh once she was with someone else and that is not a strong foundation for a long-term relationship.

I probably read more of this book than I would’ve simply to find out where it was set because it was absolutely bonkers that the premise was family and friends pressuring a 25 year old to settle down (one of the most immature 25 year olds I’ve read). In Rhode Island?! I couldn’t invest in this story based on that alone and it didn’t help that Haleigh as a character was so annoying and unlikable. I honestly wish I had DNF’ed this. It wasn’t poorly written, but the character development was severely lacking; this book has a TW for characters with anxiety but I felt it didn’t handle the subject in a developed way. I don’t feel I really knew any character by the end, an end that felt weirdly rushed.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Jenny L. Howe continues to write such lovely, amazing plus size heroines. I never feel like she's straining to create realistic characters. I am always taken aback by my inability to predict how the story will end. Except for you know the HEA, but its all about how Haleigh and Jack get there in an original manner.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

10/10 to this book for an amazing love triangle! I was rooting for both of them at one point or the other, and I appreciated that the final pair was based on the connection between the characters and not a "oh the other guy did sth bad and it was this one all along" - it was a very mature and realistic triangle, and it was absolute fun to read!

The narration was great, and I really enjoyed the creativity and the humor in the dates the MC went on! 100/10 for the cockatoo scene 🕊️

Also loved how wholesome the final pairing was, like it was so well thought out and handled 😭

-- ty to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC opportunity!

I struggled with this one. Not because of the story, i think the concept was really funny and plays into a romcom type vibe. But the execution fell flat for me.

The FMC was so wishy washy on her entire life and it made it so difficult to want to keep dealing with her. It was so obvious from the beginning that Jack was the one she needed to go with but when the opportunity happened, she panicked and wouldnt let Brian go. And the constant over worrying was basically self sabotage for her, and she knew it but wasnt trying to even change it or get better.

My biggest problem was the amount of times she called herself fat and brought it up like it was nothing. I am a bigger girl and this bothered me because it wasnt very empowering, especially when you see the FMC romantic lead constantly referring to herself that way.

This was a cute, fluffy romance, with not a ton of intensity or risk. I thought this would have more of the reality show vibes that the author’s On The Plus Side book had, but overall it was fine. I wasn’t a huge fan of the love story here, and honestly I wished she’d chosen the other guy (shocker) but I’m glad it wrapped up nicely. I of course am obsessed with all books starring fat characters, especially fat activists like Haleigh and hr sister.i was impressed by that!

I thought it was okay!! I would have loved to see more spice but I love the plus size rep!!
I would definitely read more from this author

3.5 stars rounding up to 4 because there is a lot to like about this book.

Jenny Howe’s expression of body positivity is refreshing. And her inclusion of mental health struggles where the smallest thing can drop a good day into self-doubts and self-sabotage is achingly realistic. She handles these issues with care and sensitivity.

The writing is light and easy and fun. The questionnaires and the dates are very entertaining. And while the characters are maybe a bit one-dimensional and the plot is predictable, there are plenty of lovely moments and little surprises along the way. And, with witty banter, loveable supporting characters, and depictions of positive and loving relationships – this book has a lot of heart.

This feel-good story was a lovely way to spend a day or two and I sincerely thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this advance copy in exchange for a review.

This was such a sweet, low stakes, easy book! I loved the banter and the wit from Haleigh. Its so refreshing to have a plus size woman just be loved and not have any of it focused on her body, or size. I see a lot of myself in Haleigh, with her ability to just always be herself and express her mind. I love that she didn't let any of her dates force her to be anyone else. Ill be honest and admit I don't love Jack, I don't love that he let his issues spill over and took them out on Haleigh, and just decided to finally say something about his feelings for her once he realized that someone else could swoop in and actually love her out loud. I do appreciate that this was low spice, I think if there was any more it would have taken away from the story instead of add to it. Other than that, this book was a great, fun, witty love story.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for allowing me to receive this ARC!

The premise was great and the cover was cute. This is a plus size rom-com, friends to lovers romance with very low spice. The characters are great and the book had me laughing out loud many times. I am not normally a friends to lovers trope reader but this one was super cute so well written it has me wanting to read more.

The book is about Haleigh, a twenty something that does not have all her ducks in a row as society would dictate. She graduated college but lives with a friend who charges her next to nothing in rent, works as a freelance editor and dog walker. She has always compared herself to her sister and they do not have the closest relationship. Her sister is graduating law school and getting married in one whirlwind weekend. Haleigh needs a plus one (according to her family) but after a string of bad dates she is ready to throw in the towel and be single for awhile.

Her best friend Jack has known her for most of her life. The two of them decide to appease her family that 5 people will be given two changes to send her on dates to find "the one". Jack insists on being one of those 5 people. They come up with a crazy questionnaire for each person to complete prior to the date.

The questionnaire responses are hilarious as are the dates she goes on until she meets one that seems to a pretty good match. All goes well until she goes on dates 9 & 10...