3.5/5 Star Read

As a girlie who spent far too much time swiping Tinder, and allowing friends to set me up before finally realizing that I loved my best friend, this book was a great read. It was fast-paced enough to keep me hooked, and I really finished it in one coffee-fueled sitting.

What I loved:
Plus-size FMC representation
Queer character representation.
I'm a sucker for the best-friend romance arc. Genuinely.
OCD/Anxiety representation that is handled well throughout the book.
Side characters. Almost all of them honestly. Roger is wonderful, Stanton is hilarious.
Haleigh's money issues and insecurity about her future is actually really relatable. Whiny at times? Absolutely, but who isn't. I feel like it's real. It fleshes her out as a character who has flaws.
The hilariously ill-fated dates throughout the book. Honestly I adored it, the second-hand embarrassment was absolutely astonishing, but it kept me hooked.

What I didn't love:
*Spoiler* The proposal was just jarring. Like honestly. I feel like out of all the things we've learned about Jack and Haleigh's relationship, a public proposal (at her sister's wedding) is so far out of left field.
I do wish that Haleigh's relationship with her sister is a tricky thing to navigate for them. However, I do feel as though it wasn't really explored in a way where they move toward repairing any broken bonds, and making their relationship stronger. We get one moment where re realize that maybe she isn't terrible, and then the book ends.

Expected Publish Date: December 10, 2024

A big thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. Reviews posted on NetGalley and Goodreads.

I loved on the plus side so was excited to get my hands on an early copy of this book.

First, more books need to focus on mental health. I know this genre is the ultimate escapism but we can have escapism and have the characters have real life issues. I felt so seen in the main character.

Second, while it was clear she was going to end up with Jack I love that the author had me rooting for both Jack and Brian.

Finally, I love the main character was able to find herself, though she ends up with someone in the end I think she also would have been happy on her own.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the advanced reader copy.

This was a sweet romance that did a great job of portraying mental health issues (anxiety and depression) in a realistic and not catastrophic way. Haleigh was a great embodiment of the distinct sense of being lost in the world that can come with being in your twenties. Another lovely book from Jenny Howe

4/5 ⭐️ 1/5🌶️
What a funny and light read! I am now a Jenny Howe fan & can’t wait to read more. How to Get a Life in 10 dates had a lot of banter, a funny FMC and enjoyable friendships. I always enjoy a good mental health rep and I think Howe did it in a relatable way and went as far as explaining what it feels like to have anxiety and how impactful it can be. I loved the concept of Haleigh having her family set her up for dates and how Jack threw himself into the ring. If you’re a fan of Emily Henry, Christina Lauren or just a low-angst, feel good book, I highly recommend! Thank you NetGalley for providing a free copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

How to Get a Life in Ten Dates… who wouldn’t be curious enough to pick up this book just based on its title? From the very beginning, I rooted for Hailey to discover a date worth holding onto. Although I see myself as a romantic, I wasn’t entirely sure I wanted her to end up with her best friend Jack; I was Team Brian. Nevertheless, I’m pleased with how the story concluded. She ended up with her true love. Who can dispute that?

Thanks to Netgalley & St. Martin's Press for the E-ARC! So cute! Loved the characters & the love triangle. Also enjoyed the plus-size rep. Another great book from this author!

What a,charming book! How to Get a Life in Ten Dates follows Haleigh, who has developed a list of rules with her best friend Jack to keep their friendship strong (and not let any inconvenient love feelings get in their way). However, when Haleigh gets serious about dating, allowing each of her loved ones to set her up with two blind dates, those rules might just have to go out the window…

I enjoyed this sweet page-turner of a romantic comedy! The characters are easy to root for, and the blind dates provide a lot of laughs. I appreciated the authenticity of the characters and look forward to reading more books by this author!

Haleigh Berkshire’s dating life has been nothing to write home about. When she learns she has a plus-one to her sister’s engagement party, she enlists her family and friends to be the ultimate matchmakers, including her best friend Jack who she’s been in love with since she can remember. Will she find the perfect person through matchmaking, or will she risk it all to be with her one true love?

Have you ever had someone in your life that you could see yourself marrying even though you have made it clear you’re JUST to be lifelong friends? Or someone that you mesh with so well as friends, you’ll always wonder “what if?”. If so, this book is the one for you.

This book follows Haleigh Berkshire, a plus-sized bi woman who is not only navigating the dating world but also her career. This story has inclusive representation with not only the FMC, but with many other characters we meet along the way. The characters also face anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder, and we see how they face them head-on. The way Jenny writes each character is extremely relatable and endearing, as at the end of the day we all just want to be loved and appreciated. There were a few moments when I was frustrated with some of Haleigh’s decisions, but looking back I probably would have made many of those decisions as well. Maybe that’s why I was so frustrated, because I could see myself making those mistakes as well.

I enjoyed the concept of Haleigh enlisting her friends and family to help set her up on dates. Once the matchmaking begins, the chapters include the responses from the matchmaking questionnaire. I enjoyed reading these as it sets the tone for how the date could go based on what we know about Haleigh and also serves as a cute preview for future characters. The responses were hilarious and I found myself laughing out loud at many of them. It made me happy that Haleigh ultimately ended up with the person she’s loved forever because the “what ifs” are always so painful.

Throughout the story, there are lots of pop culture references - from movies, tv shows, music, and more. I personally enjoyed them because I understood them but I could see this may be challenging to understand if the reader is not familiar with them and since there are so many, it could be difficult to connect with.

I think this book is ideal for someone who is looking for an endearing, lighthearted, contemporary romance with inclusive characters. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for giving me the chance to read this as an e-ARC!

Haleigh is feeling pressure to settle down from her family and friends, so she decides to allow them to choose dates for her to go on. Her best friend Jack helps her escape the bad dates while also throwing his hat into the ring to date her himself.

I appreciated the concept of this story but found it a bit lacking in execution. Haleigh and Jack seemed to lack chemistry in the early part of the book, and I just didn’t find myself rooting for them. The bad dates were so over the top and it seemed silly to me that a twenty-five year old would be expected to settle down in a relationship or career. I think this book might appeal to those who enjoy plus size representation, friends to lovers stories, and dating mishaps.

Thank you to Jenny L. Howe and St. Martin’s Press for the arc and opportunity to read and review this book.

Haleigh has been on a long string of bad dates. The one relationship that's felt right to her was with her best friend Jack. After a bad ending, they were able to make their way back to each other as friends and now have some strict rules to maintain their friendship. Her "perfect" sister has scheduled her engagement party and Haleigh needs to give notice of who her plus one will be. She feels like her entire family thinks she's a mess and is constantly trying to tell her how to improve - from getting a full time job instead of several part time ones to settling down with someone. She wants to take a sabbatical from dating but knows her family will say she's giving up so she and Jack come up with a plan - Haleigh choses several friends and family members who get to set her up with 2 people each and, if none of them work out, she gets to be left alone about her dating life for at least 6 months.

For me, the book is 2 stars for about half and 4 stars for the other half. So it gets 3. Haleigh and I both have anxiety so I get some of the things that make her spiral and may make her a less than lovable character. What drove me especially insane in the early part of the book was the constant pining over Jack. And then immediately talking about how their tryst almost totally ruined their friendship and they couldn't go there again. When she and Jack come up with the plan, I enjoyed the questionnaire they came up with and that the author included the responses for each of Haleigh's dates. A lot of the dates were bad, but honestly that makes them a lot more enjoyable for the reader...until we're back in pining for Jack land. When Haleigh meets someone she actually likes, I thought the story became a lot better. She still continued on her dates as she'd promised, but also keeps talking to and going out with the guy she likes. That was when the book really became better for me. Overall, it was a quick, easy read and I enjoyed the second half enough that it was worth reading. I loved Howe's book On the Plus Side but this didn't live up to that for me.

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.