Overall, I enjoyed this book. The story was charming, with fun and humorous dates and a nice variety of representation. However, some plot points felt underdeveloped and could have used more depth. I'm not particularly fond of FMCs portrayed as "a mess" or lacking basic life skills, and the dating scheme felt unnecessarily complex as a way to bring the main characters together without a significant turning point. There were plenty of flaws that I saw as the book continued, and I found that I liked the beginning much more than I liked the end, but it's still a delightful read if you can overlook a few imperfections.

What a sweet friends to lovers story with a second chance and a plus size fox. The story had a lot of potential. I enjoyed it but expected more

Synopsis:

Dating as a plus-size woman has been exhausting for Haleigh Berkshire. It doesn't help that she's been madly in love with her best friend, Jack, for years. With her sister's engagement party fast approaching with pressure to bring a plus-one, Haleigh agrees to let her friends and family set her up with 10 men or women. To her surprise, some dates go better than expected, until Jack starts sabotaging the process by crashing some of her nights out, and finally shocks her by throwing himself into the mix. Dating Jack has always been the dream, but Haleigh is afraid of the reality. Is it worth risking her best friend for something that may have never been meant to be?

Review:

I love books with fat FMCs because it's so refreshing to read about different body types. She's beautiful and she knows it, and the author explains in the foreword that she is focusing on fat joy - and that really shines through, with both the FMC & MMC. She goes on many dates, none of which are unsuccessful because of her body size. The dates were mostly unsuccessful for funny reasons - like one guy who brough his "emotional support bird" that snatches her breakfast part way through the date LOL. The only thing about the book I wasn't sure how I felt about was the end, it might have wrapped up a little too nicely BUT that's not really a criticism.

Thank you SMP Romance for my ARC!

How to Find Love in Ten Dates by Jenny L. How is such a fun and heartwarming rom-com! The story is super engaging, and I found myself rooting for the characters the whole way through. If you’re in the mood for something light and feel-good, this book is definitely worth a read.

HOW TO GET A LIFE IN TEN DATES by Jenny L. Howe is a bit of classic romcom fluffery.

Like a classic 90s movie, after a series of bad dates, our heroine Haleigh gathers a handful of her closest friends and family to set her up, and if they can't find someone for her, they have to back off about her dating life. We get plenty of awkward, uncomfortable dates (with men and women, because Haleigh is a Bi Babe™) with a couple that are downright horrific.

The one thing we don't get is fatphobia. I mean, there are allusions to it happening in the past, and her mom is very pearl clutchy at using "fat" as a neutral descriptor, but her size is never the reason a date doesn't work out. The author's note acknowledges that this is, uh, not usually how it goes in the dating world, but if your goal an uplifting story of fat joy...well, sometimes you have to pretend we live in a better world than we do. It's not a bad thing (I love escapism!) but I think that's part of what gives it a 90s romcom movie vibe, because you might have to suspend your disbelief a little bit that even the "I don't own a TV" hiking enthusiast doesn't have one thing to say about fitness or weight loss. You don't have to wait for that shoe to drop! It's not gonna!

There is a love triangle, which are not usually my jam, because unless the one who doesn't get picked turns out to be kind of terrible (ahem, GALE) I always end up feeling bad for them. It's not too bad here, but I still am kind of like "aw man, but he was so nice!"

Still, it's a fun homage to classic romcom with a side of fat joy and belonging.

This book is a delightful rom-com that explores the complexities of dating and friendship with humor and heart. The story follows Haleigh Berkshire, a plus-size woman who is exhausted by the dating scene. At just twenty-five, she feels like she's been navigating the dating world forever, and she's ready to give up. However, with her sister's engagement party looming and pressure from friends and family to find a plus-one, Haleigh agrees to let them set her up on ten dates.

The dynamic between Haleigh and her best friend, Jack, adds an intriguing layer to the story. Jack, who has been Haleigh's confidant for years, starts to break the rules they set to keep their friendship platonic, leading to unexpected complications.

I love the chemistry between them. The author does an excellent job of balancing the comedic elements with deeper emotional moments, creating a story that is both entertaining and touching. The dates Haleigh goes on are varied and often hilarious, providing plenty of laughs while also highlighting the challenges of modern dating.

Through her dates and interactions with Jack, she learns more about what she truly wants in a relationship and gains the confidence to pursue it. Overall, How to Get a Life in Ten Dates is a charming and uplifting novel that will resonate with anyone who has ever felt disillusioned by the dating world. Jenny L. Howe has crafted a story that is both funny and heartfelt, making it a perfect read for fans of romantic comedies.

THIS WAS SUCH A PLEASANT SURPRISE.

I liked so much about this book, and the vibes were just immaculate for me.

I felt that the FMC was so very relatable. As an anxious, overthinking, feeling like i’m behind everyone in life plus size girl - i felt so seen. Her confidence by the end of the book was something that really gave me some hope for myself.

I really enjoyed the overall plot of the book. The predate surveys were really funny to me, the questions were so random but also so telling. I really liked Jack and Hallie as a whole, but also as individuals.

I also really enjoyed the author’s writing style. It was enjoyable, quick, fast-paced, and the setup of the lists, questionnaires and just the story itself were really enjoyable.

I dualed between the digital copy and the audiobook and i LOVED the narrator. She added to the story so well and I think it’s a huge reason why i clicked with it so much.

Tropes you’ll find: Plus size FMC (without making it thrown into your face 24/7), Friends to Lovers, (SEMI) second chance romance?, childhood best friend & a littleeee moment of love triangle

overall i will absolutely be reading more by this author and i definitely recommend this book to my peers!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc!

This was just ok for me. I enjoyed the representation of a plus sized woman and felt this was done honestly and beautifully. But a lot of the plot felt forced and also at the same time underdeveloped. Our heroines family also sucks which just bummed me out.

Thank you to NetGalley, Spotify Audiobooks, St. Martin's Press, and Jenny L. Howe for the chance to read and listen to this book in exchange for my honest review.

I am always eager to read stories about plus sized FMCs- so I jumped at the chance to read this book. It's a sweet story that had me laughing out loud during the dates that our FMCs closest family and friends set her up on. I especially enjoyed hearing all of the date "participants'" answers to the questionnaire. I kind of think the questionnaire should be patented.

How to Get a Life in Ten Dates was a cute rom-com with a sweet romance aspect.
Plus size dating is exhausting main character, Haleigh Berkshire.
The pressure she gets from her family is draining Haleigh. In fact, I have to say, her family is really not nice to her.
A lighthearted, contemporary romance that was a slow burn/friends to lovers read.

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

How to Get a Life in Ten Dates is a really cute story about Haleigh, a plus-sized woman who is sick of dating, especially when she greets a date and sees the look on their face when they realize she's not skinny. She's also been in love with her best friend, Jack, pretty much since they met in second grade but she and Jack gave it a go once and when it didn't work out, put rules into place so their friendship would never be messed up.

Sick of everyone in her life telling her she needs to give people more of a chance, she suggests each of the five important people in her life getting to set her up on two dates each. There are more than a few duds and Jack's supposed to be setting her up on dates but is dragging his feet and finally sets her up with someone when he realizes she's meshing well with the only date she hit it off with...except he doesn't want her to hit it off with anyone except for him. Will they actually make it work or are they too scared to mess up their friendship. I thought this book was so cute and thoughtfully done.

I thought this book was fast and fun, but it lacked a lot of emotional depth that would not have been difficult to include.

I knew how this book was going to end by 1-2 chapters in. With detail. From the moment Jack inserted himself into her plan, there was only one way this was going. There was zero shock to this, and I think it was because there wasn't time develop more/new drama and pressure. The premise of this book involves 10 dates, and I feel like 8 of the dates did relatively nothing for the plot whatsoever. This book could have been more fun and hard-hitting if a couple of those dates or relationships had been more interesting or impactful to Haleigh. The little questionnaire she had everyone fill out gave me the ick for almost every single person; some of them seemed unrealistic if you actually wanted a date to go passably well with someone. Oof.

I liked that the FMC got to just exist in her body because there was a caveat early on that every date would know her size/appearance in advance. I was nervous going into this book that some of the drama would revolve around someone not being size-inclusive on a date, and I'm glad she got to look/feel beautiful and hot in her fat body throughout this. Yes, queen! I also liked the representation of OCD through Jack. Therapy was discussed positively and Haleigh understood what Jack needed to feel safe.

This story didn't have much drama regardless of dating game because the end result was a party thrown by her sister and future sister-in-law where the key issue was whether or not she'd have a plus-one, but her sister was clearly loaded, so I don't understand why it actually mattered. And the proposal at the party was tasteless in my opinion because he couldn't even get down on a knee without offending her sister, so it felt like deeply the wrong moment. He should have taken her back to Hawaii or something.

So it was a mixed bag of emotions from me, but it was definitely a quick read that didn't make me think too hard, and that absolutely is sometimes exactly what someone needs!

This was a cute, body positive, account of dating as a twenty something who is fed up with online dating and just wants some peace and quiet from meddling relatives. This can be read as a stand-alone even though it's related to some other titles in the same series; it's fun, light, lots of places for laughter and eye rolling (so many bad dates!) and a little bit of cringing.

A fun addition to anyone's bookshelf!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Charming, Witty, and Heartfelt!

"How to Get a Life in Ten Dates" by Jenny L. Howe is a delightful gem of a romance novel that completely captured my heart from the very first page. With a perfect blend of humor, emotional depth, and lovable characters, this book kept me hooked until the very end.

The story's premise is irresistibly fun—using ten dates as a roadmap to rediscover oneself and embrace life's possibilities. The protagonist is incredibly relatable, navigating the highs and lows of love and self-discovery with a voice that feels authentic and fresh. Each date was filled with humor, awkwardness, and genuine moments that made me laugh out loud and occasionally brought a tear to my eye.

Jenny L. Howe's writing is smart and engaging, with just the right amount of romance and introspection. The chemistry between the characters felt real and electric, and the growth they experienced throughout the story was inspiring.

If you're looking for a feel-good read with heartwarming moments and laugh-out-loud humor, this book is an absolute must! Perfect for fans of romantic comedies and anyone who believes in second chances and finding love when you least expect it. Highly recommend! I cannot wait for more Jenny Howe books!

First of all, I really appreciated that the FMC was queer and had dates with both men and women. The dates themselves were very entertaining and well executed. Haleigh, our FMC, was not my favorite. I personally get turned off by complaining about "adulting" and acting like being single is the worst thing that can happen to someone. Overall, a decent read.

I loved meeting Jenny L. Howe's newest characters--Haleigh and Jack--who live in the same world with some of the same characters from Howe's first two books--On The Plus Side and The Make-Up Test.

Twenty-five year olds Haleigh and Jack have been friends since second grade, and except for a vacation fling that almost ended their friendship, have been only that--best friends. Both struggle with anxiety in different ways, and Haleigh is a fat writer and editor who freelances while also walking dogs, feeling like she can't ever catch up to the perfect life her older sister, Joey, has.

She enlists her family and friends to set her up on ten dates, since they seem to think meeting someone and beginning a relationship is so easy. After some doozies, she meets Brian, a veterinarian, and things seem to be going well. But Jack hasn't set his dates for her yet, and she still has a place for him in her heart even though he hurt her badly after their fling years ago.

I enjoyed it, and thought Howe dealt with the characters' anxiety sensitively and accurately. I loved the fact that Haleigh was fat, and that she appreciated Jack's fat body as well. I loved that Haleigh was queer, dating either men or women (assuming she would date nonbinary folks as well), and that this was seen as normal without any further explanation. I loved that there were additional queer characters. Howe also does a good job with her author's note, explaining why she uses the word "fat" in a neutral way, and loved that the characters really don't experience anti-fat bias during the events of the book. The terrible dates Haleigh goes on are not terrible because her dates are anti-fat--dating is just hard.

My only criticism is that Jack, as a character, could have been fleshed out a little more. All we know is that they've been friends essentially their whole life, that he loves to read like Haleigh, that he does something with computers, they play racing games together, and that he also has anxiety. It would have been nice to have some chapters from his perspective, because it was hard to figure out what made him tick. Nevertheless, I still really enjoyed it.

Raleigh, 25, is tired to find love after a series of bad dates especially with the mounting pressure from family to settle down and to get her life together. With the help of her best friend Jack, they came up with the game plan. 5 of her friends and family will set her up on 2 dates each in hopes to find her plus on for her sister's up coming nuptials.
This is probably one of few books i was rooting for the opposite of the guy she actually chose. I didn't care of the one she chose, while the author made him try to come off as sweet, there was too many red flags I didn't care for.

3 stars (if this was an arc Review I would probably rated it lower)

Haleigh's dating life has never gone particularly well. There was that one amazing week in Hawaii with her best friend, Jack, but they don't talk about that. Seriously, they have rules against it. But when she receives a plus-one for her sister's big party in a few months, Haleigh decides to get serious about finding a date. She asks all the people she's closest with to set her up with two people, in the hopes that one of them will be a good fit.

I absolutely LOVED How to Get a Life in Ten Dates! Haleigh and Jack's friendship was everything, and the dates were so much fun to read about (even if they weren't always fun to be on). I've loved everything I've read by Jenny L. Howe and this absolutely lived up to all of my expectations.

How to Get a Life in Ten Dates by Jenny L Howe
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Haleigh is tired of dating and ready to take a long break. But her sister’s wedding is coming up and if she doesn’t bring a plus one she knows she will be harassed. So she makes a deal with her family and best friends: they can each set her up on ten dates total, and if none of them work they will all leave her alone.
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I liked the premise of the book. Ten dates set up by family, lots of room for funny or awkward moments.
There were some good laughs in this book. Haleigh has a great relationship with her roommate and her bestie. I really enjoyed the heartfelt conversations she had with her sister later on too. We are her for strengthening family bonds in a story!
There was a bit of a love triangle here and those have, historically, been NOT my favorite. So I did struggle a bit with that. But I think Haleigh handled it well and fairly.
3⭐️⭐️⭐️ I liked Haleigh’s story but I didn’t love it.

Hadleigh is sick of being single and hearing about it. To try to remedy that, she decides to enlist the people who know her best to pick her dates. The only problem is that she’s hopelessly in love with her best friend: Jack and he’s also picking her dates. While it seems dramatic at first, this book hits all the beats you might imagine.

Regardless, How to Get a Life in Ten Dates allows us to learn more about Hadleigh, her struggles and the complex relationships she has with the people closest to her. From the start, most of us are rooting for Jack and hoping she’ll end up with him. The issue is that something happened while they were on vacation in Hawaii and since then, they’ve been completely platonic best friends.

Even so, it’s clear we’re all hoping and rooting for Jack and Hadleigh to end up together. This entire thing also coincides with Hadleigh’s sister’s engagement party. As with Jenny L. Howe’s previous novels, this story is fairly low-stakes but Hadleigh does waffle a lot throughout the book on how she’s feeling and what she wants to do. At times, Hadleigh can be a frustrating character yet it makes her relatable as she’s looking to do what’s best yet it doesn’t always work out that way.

In the end, I’m sure most of us know who Hadleigh is going to end up with but that back-and-forth makes for an entertaining read. While I can see why this book wouldn’t work for some, it was a quick and adorable romance I couldn’t stop reading.