I first came across Claire Calman when I was on the blog tour for Growing up for Beginners. I thought that was a sensational book and had high hopes for this one. I’m pleased to say that Claire doesn’t disappoint.
I was immediately immersed in Natalie’s world, complete with her insecurities and imposter syndrome. A special mention, of course, to our shared arachnophobia! That said, I can’t relate to her sensational, gymnastic avoidance technique.
Blended families are a common subject and it’s not unusual to read about the difficulties of being a second-wife or a stepmother. This book takes the concepts to a more detailed level as we are faced with the minutiae of Natalie’s insecurities as she compares herself to the flaxen haired perfection that she’s measuring herself against.
From Natalie’s complicated family to Carl’s estranged brother, Claire Calman has created a wonderful tale of human frailties and the comedy that can be derived from the feelings of not fitting in. The story doesn’t shy away from examining Natalie’s very real and debilitating low self-esteem however, the comedy is based around her situations in a kind and gentle manner.
At the core of this wonderful book, is Carl’s unfaltering love for Natalie. He’s not a perfect husband, but he wants to be perfect to her. Hold onto that as you delve into the story and enjoy the ride.
I hope that you get as much pleasure from Natalie’s adventures as I did.

Newly weds Natalie and Carl have just bought a new house. Well, Carl did. Natalie didn't know until they arrived at the rundown cottage. To make matters worse, his perfect, ex wife close by in a swanky house.

This is such a fun read. You can't help but squirm when things happen. Me personally, I wouldn't be impressed with Carl either. It was a great read to wind down and it perked me up no end. Its got lots of arguing and lots of ding dongs, if you love that kind of read then you will love this book.

This is a decent book, easy to read and relatable in some respects. The main character, Natalie, moves to the country with her new husband but to the same small village as his perfect ex wife and their children.
There are the inevitable comparisons between them but they are very different and you want to cheer for Natalie against these posh, wealthy types.
And this is where I find the book stumbles a little. They buy a property and renovate it. Not a cheap endeavour by any means. Especially in the area the book is set. She has given up her shop and therefore her income so I feel that this belittles her somewhat. I know that it forms part of the loose plot, but as an independent woman who was running a business, to be solely focussed on curtain making and nipping to the butchers for supper, makes her seem a bit flat. I would have liked to have seen the story delve into that further. And it would have added weight to the character and the reasoning behind her conflict with the ex wife.
A satisfying ending but not very true to real life, but I guess that’s what books are!

Ok so in the beginning I was rolling my eyes at these characters but towards the middle I became invested and once I reached the end I was glad I stuck it out. The writing is witty and hilarious and Calman did a good job of telling this story!

I was looking forward to reading this book, the promotional material suggested that it was funny with interesting characters and a great setting.. Unfortunately it missed the humour mark for me . I found Carl very irritating; initially he comes across charming and loveable, but the warning signs were there. Who buys a divorce present for his ex wife?
Natalie was a perfect candidate for a best friend and I wanted everything to work out for her despite her naivety and ability to mess up in certain situations.
i think that this book was overpromised, but ultimately if you are looking for a story about a beautiful cottage renovation with its own duck pond, then this has it all.

Interesting and quirky story, but it seemed like the wife was complaining about her situation all the time and it was hard to sympathize/relate to her. Still an engaging book but just on the it was ok side for me. Still recommended.

Thanks to Netgalley, Claire Calman and Boldwood Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Available: 6/16/21

A long time ago I read and LOVED Love is a Four Letter Word and then for some reason didn't come across the author again until I saw this on Netgalley and immediately clicked. And I did really enjoy this, I love the author's writing, the setting was idyllic, Natalie an interesting if at times frustrating character and the secondary characters well drawn and developed. It was really readable and absorbing. But I did have some problems with the central relationship and the resolution which in the end spoilt it a little for me.

Natalie is thirty six and runs an antique shop specialising in clocks, and owns her own flat (in London, the shop must do well!). Six months or so before the book opens she is swept off her feet and whirlwind marries Carl, a handsome PR man. Carl is divorced with two children and Natalie, who grew up with an absent father encourages him to spend as much time as he can with them, even suggesting they move nearer. The next thing she knows Carl has bought a house at auction, without her input not just near but practically next door to his ex wife and two children and fastforward a couple of months and Natalie is marooned in a tiny village, dealing with Carl's hostile children, perfect first wife who keeps on referring to 'our husband', doing up a practically derelict cottage while Carl spends his time elsewhere either working in London or looking after a sick father in Bristol. Increasingly lonely, Natalie realises she doesn't know her husband at all, He won't talk or open up, spins everything (practically gaslights her in some ways) and seems happier with his ex.

You have to wonder why Carl married Natalie. He dislikes her dress sense, thinks of her job as a hobby, misleads her and downright lies to her, tells her she's indecisive but leaves her to make all the decisions on the house, and sneers at her style and taste. Although tbh I'm not sure why Natalie loves Carl except he's handsome and the sex seems to be good. And there just isn't enough of a development in his character (there is for her) to redeem this. I never felt like he deserved her. Which is a shame because with a bit more of a redemption arc this could have been a 4 or 5 star read.

Having said that it's a poignant, entertaining and at times funny read with some great scenes. I just needed a little more.

Claire Calman’s novel "A Second-Hand Husband" was a witty, authentic, and beautifully written story with an engaging plot and compelling characters. I could not help but become engrossed in Natalie’s story as she uprooted her life in London and moved to the tiny village of Little Wyford, England. The author’s well described settings made it easy to visualize Natalie as she walked down the high street or gazed across the pond at Rose Cottage. I respected Natalie’s strength and determination as she set about making a new life for herself in the village and awkwardly tried to forge new relationships, with little help from her husband.

At the beginning of the story, I had trouble relating to Natalie because she seemed to be a door mat, especially when it came to her husband. He bought the cottage without talking to her, left her alone and in charge of the renovations and continuously kept things from her. Further, she put up with Carl’s ex-wife Antonia’s passive-aggressive behavior without sticking up for herself. However, as the story progressed, she showed tremendous growth. She started standing up to Carl and slowly won Antonia and the children over. She faced each obstacle placed before her and overcame them on her own terms.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well-written, wholesome love story. While these types of stories are not usually my favorite, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I cannot wait to see if this becomes a series and Natalie’s sister and Carl’s brother get their own story. I am looking forward to seeing more from this author.

I really wanted to love this book, the premise was great and the description really drew me in - I was looking forward to all those laugh out loud moments I kept reading about but they didn't really come. Overall the book was enjoyable and I liked it but I didn't love it!
I found Natalie to be frustrating who doesn't say anything when their husband buys a house without speaking to them first, I felt that she allowed herself to be walked all over for far too long. When she agrees to move into the same village as her new husband's ex wife she doesn't realise that that means being practically next door! Or that she will be constantly referred to as Wife Number Two but for almost the entire book she doesn't fight back for herself but rather seems to lie down and take it which is what frustrated me. Once Natalie started to stand up for herself I found the book a whole lot more fun and enjoyable. Even though I can't say I loved it I would still recommend to those looking for an easy and enjoyable read as there are parts which you will smile at and commiserate with and overall you do find yourself rooting for her to stand up and shout!

A real laugh out loud book. Once you have started this book you cannot put it down. It is touching and funny at the same time. Nobody wants to be second in anyones life, but that is where the second wife comes - can she make it into first place? I dare anyone to read this without smiling!

A Second Hand Husband is a funny read. Nathalie encouraged her new husband to move closer to his children and his ex wife. But after she sees what he’s bought, keeps running into the perfect ex wife she’s having second thoughts. There were so funny scenes. Nathalie certainly got herself into a few jams, but I really liked her. She was authentic and didn’t pull any punches. There are several come to reasoning moments that were handled well. Tow of my favorites were the last spider scene and the power outage scene. I really liked this book as it shows comprise and the blending of families. We all have our quirks and fears, even not so perfect ex wives.

This book had so much potential. Natalie is a sweet character with a kind heart that is completely exploited. A positive is her sister Celeste. She is bold, funny and a really great addition to the story. It feels like she has a lot to give. Even in the limited time she's in the book, she brings so much.

However, I couldn't get past the vile character that is Carl. He is such an arrogant idiot and his relationship with Natalie is SO toxic. He gaslights Natalie at every turn. There's a very repetitive cycle of Carl doing/saying something that upsets Natalie -she gets reasonably upset - he flips out and calls her crazy - she then doubts herself and questions whether he's right - he comes back full of apologies and she accepts it. It isn't long before that cycle starts again and it is so unhealthy. I found the book very difficult to read. Their relationship made me feel uneasy and uncomfortable.

I kept reading because I wanted to see if there was a turning point where Natalie had a big revelation and realised she deserved more. Spoilers - she doesn't. It looked promising as we neared the end of the book and I was cheering thinking "YES! This is why I kept reading" and then right at the last minute, it was ruined.

There was also the use of a homophobic term targeted towards the lesbian community which I did not appreciate - "They think anyone who actually goes for a swim must be some sort of d**** athlete". I know the author was clearly trying to show that the women are mean but I think doing it in this way was not the way to go. You can be a mean girl without being homophobic.


Claire Colman writes very well. This book just wasn't for me.

Review of A Second Hand Husband by Claire Calman

This is the story of Natalie and her second hand husband Carl. Carl buys a run down home for them at auction secretly. Then it transpires that it's around the corner from his first wife, the perfect Antonia, who has the perfect mansion and not a run down cottage. A good funny read about what transpires and Natalie trying to figure out if a second hand husband was the best idea.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC.
Unfortunately, I could not get into this book.
Carl is a nimwit. I don't understand how Carl and Natalie go together.

I loved this book. The main characters are Natalie and Carl They got married 6 months after they met. The story starts with Carl buying a run down cottage in a beautiful village just down the road from his ex and their 2 children. He only tells Nat about the cottage once he bought it in auction. First Nat wasn't very pleased, but when she saw the cottage and the surroundings, she fell in love with it. Only thing bothering her was Carl's ex wife who lives 10 minutes from them. Antonia is always very glamour, rich and has lot of friends. As the two women get to know each other, Natalie finds out Antonia is not as confident as she looks. It is a really good read.

A Second-Hand Husband by Claire Calman was a fun read set in a charming village! I love a romcom set in a renovation and this one really delivers. Protagonist Natalie is the kind of character I wish was real so we could be best friends! Perfect for a reading escape when life is feeling blah.

I really enjoyed Claire Calman’s last book so I had high hopes for this one ,but I found it hard to like any of the characters and to relate to any of them sympathetically. I thought Natalie ,the main character ,came over as immature and whiny.As for the supposed perfect husband,Carl,I wouldn’t have given him the time of day ,as he was so overbearing ,self centred and bossy.They deserved each other!
The plot wanders all over the place ,and although there were some funny moments ,mostly involving Antonia ,Carl’s first wife, I was quite glad to see the back of them all by the end of the book.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review which reflects my own opinion.

I had high hopes for this book to be a fast paced, easy romantic comedy but it didn't quite deliver. The characters are not particularly likeable or enjoyable for a good portion of the book. Overall it ended up being a nice read after some initially slow pacing. It's not necessarily a memorable story, I think there was great potential for this trope.

I really wanted to like this book but I found it a bit of a chore. The characters a pretty unlikeable on the whole. I think we are meant to have sympathy with Natalie, and I do a bit, but she is very whiny and does things that make her seem really childish - running away because her husband is talking to his ex wife at a party for example. And she is the best of a bad bunch! The ex wife who refers to herself as ‘his number one’ when referring to her ex husband is a typical cliched rich ex wife. And Carl the husband is unbearable - patronising, dismissive, and up himself. And the teenage stroppy daughter. All make this a tough read I’m afraid!

It was easy to relate to Natalie because of her monologues. It’s easy to have thoughts of whether you are enough or are making the right decisions. However, I think sometimes it was a little too much and it ended up just making me dislike Natalie because she comes off as whiny.

Also, there wasn’t much of a plot