Can I Give My Husband Back?: A totally laugh out loud and uplifting page turner

· Bookouture
4.5
21 reviews
Ebook
350
Pages

About this ebook

‘I laughed and laughed my way through this book from start to finish!!... I found it so funny that I rolled from one laugh straight to into another one for most of the book!... I loved this book so much I finished it in a day – I think that tells you everything you need to know!! Fab, fab, fab!!’ Stardust Book Reviews, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

It’s normal to prefer getting a filling at the dentist to spending time with your husband, right?

 

I thought I was sorted on the life front. I was a heart surgeon with a loving partner and two gorgeous little girls. Except my husband’s version of ‘loving’ is lying, cheating and sleeping his way around London. Which means I definitely deserve a refund.

 

Unfortunately, moving on isn’t that simple. Just because I know how to operate on a heart doesn’t mean I know how to fix my broken one. Plus, I lost the receipt for him years ago so I’m definitely getting short changed.

 

But now I’m single, am I ready to mingle? There are a few minor issues:

 

1)   The last time I went on a date double denim was in fashion and my eyebrows were horrendously overplucked.

2)   Men wear stupidly skinny jeans now.

3)   I don’t know how to use dating apps but at least I don’t have to get changed out of my pyjamas.

4)   Sometimes the most promising thing you have in common with a guy is a shared love of prawns.

5)   I don’t know whether to open a date with ‘hi’ or ‘hello’ or ‘hey’ and once I ended up saying ‘howdy’.

Everything happens for a reason, they say. There’s plenty more fish in the sea. But what happens when everything falls apart and you haven’t got a clue how to go fishing?

 

An absolutely hilarious and utterly relatable tale for anyone who has ever survived a nightmare relationship, felt a little lonely or nursed a broken heart with wine and carbs. This feel-good novel will get you back on your feet and genuinely laughing out loud. Perfect for fans of Why Mummy Drinks, Sophie Ranald and Sophie Kinsella.

 

Readers absolutely love Can I Give My Husband Back?:


‘The BEST book I have read for a long time! A book has never made me laugh like this one... Made me laugh until I couldn’t breathe, I had tears rolling down my face and I had to force myself to put it down for a bit to recover. This book has it all: it’s laugh-until-you-risk-passing-out funny, it made me cry, the characters are highly relatable and I loved every second of it… If I could give it more than 5 stars I would!’ Goodreads Reviewer,


‘A side-splittingly hilarious romp that had me wiping away tears I was laughing so much… It’s just as well that I was in lockdown and I couldn’t read this book anywhere in public because I was laughing so hard, I would have surely embarrassed myself… Wickedly funny, deliciously witty and a joy from start to finish.’ Bookish Jottings, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

‘OMG… LOVED IT!!!… Just pure LOL all the way through… A MUST-READ for when you could do with a laugh!’ The Book Girls, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

‘Oh my goodness… Made me laugh so much my sides hurt… Definitely the pick-me-up and anxiety-buster I needed.’ Little Miss Book Lover 87, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

‘Brilliant… It’s not often that a proclaimed “laugh out loud” book makes me do so, yet laugh out loud I did.’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

‘Had me chuckling out loud and I think I almost actually jumped off my chair at one point.’ This Hannah’s Life

 

‘Had me in stiches.’ B for Bookreviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

‘Jam packed with so so many laugh out loud moments, honestly I just couldn’t stop laughing. Also I found this very easy to read and it only took me 2 days to read, it was that good I just flew through it!’ Jessica Book Biz, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

‘An unputdownable, hilarious and over-the-top read that entertained me for a whole day non-stop… Really got me laughing out loud.’ Roving Book Worm

 

‘Fantastic… My belly hurts from laughing.’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

‘Hilarious!... I loved every second of this book.’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

‘I absolutely loved this book! It reminds me of Bridget Jones but better if that's possible.’ The Book Club Africa, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

‘I laughed and laughed my way through this book from start to finish!!… I’ve never found a character that I’ve found so funny as what Lucy is!!… I rolled from one laugh straight to into another one!… An absolute belter of a book!!! I loved this book so much I finished it in a day – I think that tells you everything you need to know!! Fab, fab, fab!!’ Stardust Book Reviews, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


‘I finished it in a mere few hours because I didn’t want to put it down… I haven’t laughed this much while reading a book in a long time!… My only regret is that I devoured it so quickly… This is the perfect book to settle down and relax with on a particularly stressful day. (Or any day really! No matter how you’re feeling, this book is wonderful and you need to read it OK? OK).’ Reading in Autumn

 

‘Hilarious, laugh-a-minute read! Had me chuckling aloud as I read, much to the consternation of my husband! Frank, funny and full of relatable family dynamics!… A real laugh-out-loud read of a book that I devoured in a day!’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ratings and reviews

4.5
21 reviews
Sheena Martinez
August 4, 2020
It was fine. It was easy to immersed myself into 'Can I Give My Husband Back?'. The storyline was relatable and this novel had a decent amount of drama that wasn't too overwhelming. Generally pretty enjoyable despite the romance I could've done without. I liked Jag but I didn't love him as much as Leo and I was a bit surprised she ended up with the former. I felt like Leo and Emma had better chemistry but whatever flows your boat I guess. Additional to that, the family dynamic between Emma and her sisters, especially Lucy, was hilarious. It made me wish I had that type of relationship with my siblings. Now to sum up, it was not too shabby. I will definitely read from this author again.
Alison Robinson
June 25, 2020
Let me start by saying I think the blurb for this book is very misleading, I really liked the novel but it is not what I expected from the blurb. Emma is a pediatric heart surgeon and mother living in a fabulous house in a desirable area of London. Her ex-husband is also a surgeon and a lying, cheating waste of skin. After mourning the death of her marriage (the finale of which is shared via flashback throughout the book), Emma is finally willing to dip a little toe into the dating pool. This is the second novel about the Callaghan sisters but it is perfectly possible to read it as a standalone novel (as I did). Emma is in the tricky situation of trying to be the reasonable parent, career woman, caring sister and interesting date. Added to which she is dealing with the baggage of modern families eg interfering parents, dealing with the ex-in-laws, dealing with your ex-husband's new girlfriend, dealing with your sister's relationship issues and, of course an Elsa from Frozen competition. Loved it! I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
8 people found this review helpful
Gavin Dimmock
June 19, 2020
(I read a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.) Sorbet. I’ll just leave that word hanging for a moment. My book diet consists mainly - but, not exclusively - of thrillers, crime thrillers and each new Stephen King as soon as it's published. Into this menu, you can add historical fiction, history books and true crime tales. Of the books I have read thus far in 2020, six have been books about real-life historical events and a further two have been retellings of the Greek legends by the English legend that is Stephen Fry. Add to these a comic tale from an English comedian, a wonderful book by an upcoming British Asian writer and the joyous read that is “The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse”. Despite my fondness for the aforementioned genres, I try to mix up the books I read occasionally - increasingly often in fact - especially in these times. I find it can be rewarding to freshen up my choice of reading with a title that goes against my usual fare. Which leads me back to that single word at the start of my review. Sorbet. Sometimes you need the tang that only comes with a mouthful of the delicious fruity sugary-sweet frozen dessert. That unexpectedly expected hit of sweetness and zest gives you a start, makes you smile and refreshes you. It leaves you energised, invigorated and, often, happy. And that, dear reader, is exactly what “Can I Give My Husband Back?” did for me. Kristen Bailey first came to my attention at the start of this year. I forget exactly how I heard of her previous book, “Has Anyone Seen My Sex Life?”. It was most likely excited chatter via Twitter and, with its vibrantly coloured cover and its intriguing title, I knew I had to dip my toes into her world. And, as with that hit of sorbet, I’m pleased I took a taste. So much so, that when I saw Kristen had a second book coming out, I jumped at the opportunity to explore her work again. When I first picked up this book, I didn’t realise it continued the Callaghan sisters’ stories. But I am glad that it does. It was a delight to have the chance to reacquaint myself with the sisters from the first book. They are an absorbing quintet, each with her own personality - personalities that leap from the pages - and pull you happily along with the narrative. Each sister brings a different dynamic and vibe to what I now know will be a series of at least five books; maybe more if Ma and Pa Callaghan get their own outings. This particular outing tells the tale of Emma Callaghan - the second oldest sibling (“HASMSL” concerned the oldest sister, Meg) as Emma copes with the aftermath of her husband Simon’s infidelities and their subsequent divorce and relationship in caring for their daughters. While I cannot say I believe this book is aimed specifically at readers like myself - a married man of thirty plus years (to the same woman, yes, she’s a saint) - I simply loved it. The author writes engaging characters, full of life and zest, complete with their flaws, foibles, fears and frustrations. She breathes life into them and into their relationships and actions. And, she has a great way with dialogue, when the girls speak, their words sparkle and snap. You’d be wrong for thinking that this would be a hard read about bitterness and divorce, such an emotive and terrible time in someone’s life. Far from it, this book is an absolute blast; it’s tangy, zesty (that word again), fruity and, at many times, downright filthy. It is also very funny and, often, simply hilarious. These Callaghan girls are no shy, retiring wallflowers; they are in your face, say it like it is, feisty and fun females. Modern, empowered, unwilling to let life - or the men in their lives (PS. We’re not all bad. Honest.) - derail them. Personally, I cannot wait for the book in which the youngest sister appears. I’m looking forward to Luce Cannon’s tale. This is a terrific read; fun and entertaining, well written and very enjoyable. As I said earlier, it’s sorbet. Light and refreshing with a sharp kick.
5 people found this review helpful

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