I really enjoyed this book reading it in two sittings.

Louisa and Kip have been happily married for 40 years, brought up three children together and looking forward to retirement when Kip, on Boxing Day, announces his desire for a divorce so he can live with Zoe, his youngest son’s ex.

The repercussions of this decision on Louisa, her children and its implications for Zoe are huge. However they also allow a re-evaluation of what is important and a new way forward. Relationships are reforged and new futures planned.

Ultimately a hopeful story - one to be recommended.

Erica James writes novels that are warm and uplifting - the sort of stories you can snuggle up with and get lost in – which is why I’m always so excited to get my hands on her latest book.

An Ideal Husband was an absorbing, enjoyable and thought-provoking read. It charts the life-changing developments within an established family group following the traumatic breakdown of Louisa and Kip’s marriage. The couple’s split creates unsettling ripples for all the family and, soon, everyone is questioning their relationships. . . with their partners, and with each other.

When a marriage breaks down, there are always two sides to the story, but it is rare and very refreshing to find a novel that tells both sides of that story. Using multiple narrators allows the reader to see things from several points of view and understand that what appears to be a straightforward betrayal, is actually much more complex.

I would thoroughly recommend An Ideal Husband, along with all of Erica James’s other books. Whilst there may be no such thing as an ideal husband, there is such a thing as an ideal read - and this is it!

I’m always excited to read a new Erica James book and this one did not disappoint.
A husband turns everything upside down when he announces he wants a divorce and chooses Boxing Day to make this known! A highly emotion read and very true to life. I was hooked from start to finish.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for a honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book on a recent holiday-it’s about people who are well portrayed in a realistic way as they each confront a difficult situation.It’s very well written and moves along at a good pace.Definitely recommended!
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review which reflects my own opinion.

I really enjoyed this story. Erica Is a great author who always manages to portray her characters well. Another brilliant book!

Firstly thank you Netgalley for this Arc

Another brilliant book by a brilliant author can’t wait to read more by Erica

Who doesn't love an Erica James book! I just love her books & this one is excellent.
After 30 years of marriage, Kit tells his wife Louisa, on Boxing Day, that he wants a divorce. He confesses that he has been seeing a younger woman for months & the woman is their son's ex-girlfriend!
The book explores the complexities of families going through this trauma & how they deal with the hurt & shock. The characters are believable, & you feel their pain & confusion. The book also shows the goodness in people who can see the bigger picture & how they can empathise.
Beautifully written & one that I intend to read again. Highly recommended!

Louisa thought her long marriage to Kip was solid, until Boxing Day he told her he wanted a divorce.
Seen through the eyes of the adult children as well as the parents, we see how their lives change.
Friendships, marriages and children are the main themes of this book.
Can the family rebuild their lives after the split?
A good light read.

A family in turmoil. Louisa Langford is getting divorced and she’s not taking it well. Her husband Kip is having a (late) mid-life crisis and has a new girlfriend. Their much-loved home is for sale. Their children are horrified. We see events from the point of view of everyone in the family and how the separation affects them. A good read as usual from Erica James.

I adore Erica James's writing and was thrilled to be approved for an early look at this book. Happy to say it lived up to my very high expectations and I loved it.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Christmas in the Langford household. Mum Louisa, Dad Kip, children Ashley, Arabella and Angus. Grandchildren Heidi and Peggy. Christmas Day went well, all happy and then – Boxing Day Kip told Louisa that he wanted a divorce. Louisa is in complete shock. Kip also tells her that he is in love with a lady called Zoe who happens to be the ex girlfriend of their son Angus and their children’s age. The family begins to fall apart. The family cannot understand how their father could do this after many years of marriage and find it hard to come to terms with Kip’s betrayal of their mother. Things get worse as divorce looms and the family home is sold. Louisa is devastated to lose the home where the children were brought up in but eventually realises that she has no choice but to “get on with it”. Once she starts house hunting Louisa finds a home she feels she can grow old in. Louisa’s life looks up but Kip realises that maybe his moving on was a mistake. The reason for this is that he misses his children who are so against his relationship with Zoe and to top everything off Zoe is pregnant. A spanner in the works of his so called care free life. The book continues quite rapidly and you wonder whether the family will ever gel again. Kip goes through dramas, has counselling and slowly realises life is good, his family are accepting and Louisa’s personality is such that she can encompass the new dynamic of life today. It helps, of course, that Si comes into her life. I enjoyed this book

Brilliant laugh out loud romcom style book, full of family drama. Great characters, great descriptions prefect summer read. Thank you netgalley for the advanced copy

I love Erica's books, and this one is no exception. It takes on modern family problems with wit and understanding. I was devastated at the start being a woman of a certain age and length of marriage but took delight in the way the subject was dealt with. A book to laugh, cry and smile with. Loved it !

Once I'd decided to ignore the rash of crises to beset the one family, and the ease with which they were all resolved in less than a year, I enjoyed An Ideal Husband by Erica James very much.

A really good read. When Louisa's husband Kip tells her he's leaving her for a younger woman she along with the grown up children are all devastated but she tries desperately to keep things amicable for the sake of the family. Things don't go to plan for Kip when problems with his former family causes conflict for all of them. A story that holds your interest from the beginning interesting characters and troubled relationships but with Louisa at the heart of the family and her ability to calm situations can she bring the family back together so they can all find happiness. Really enjoyed it

Erica James is an old favourite of mine, so it’s a bit of a no brainer for me to choose her books! She has the ability to write interesting situations that seem very realistic with characters that have problems we all face. An Ideal Husband is no exception to this.

We follow several members of the same family; Louisa who’s been married to Kip for forty years, and their three children. At the start of the novel, Kip has put the family home on the market without telling Louisa who he’s left for another woman. The conflict between the couple and their children who have all taken their mother’s side is the main driver of the narrative. Louisa feels that she’s at fault for not noticing how her husband was struggling whilst he is enjoying his freedom. Their children, all adults, are shaken by how badly their father, their childhood hero has behaved.

There are ups and downs within the family as we track their first year since the break up and how they are all moving on/dealing with the fallout.

Whilst these are not light topics, the novel is fast paced and enjoyable. I found it incredibly gripping and read it in two days. Erica James has not lost her touch and I was very pleased to spend time within this realistic world.

Thank you to netgalley, Erica James and the publisher for an advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for a review.

Pick up this gorgeous hug of a book and get transported to a beautiful place wraps itself round you like a cosy blanket. It has warmth, charm, laugh-out-loud moments and a wistful nostalgia. I absolutely loved it.
If this doesn’t speak romcom perfection I don’t know what does!… I was so delighted with the warm fuzzy feeling this book left me with

This was my first book by this author and it won't be the last! It had everything I love about a book, family, drama with love at the root - will definitely be recommending it to others.

I love Erica James' books and this is another great read.
When Kip decides to leave Louisa, his wife of thirty years, to live with his son's ex-girlfriend, the family begins to fall apart.
There are several sub-plots involving their three adult children and their relationships.
The book revolves around relationships. I found it interesting to read about the challenges and break ups from all angles.
Nicely tied up at the end.

This is a brilliant contemporary take on love, divorce, modern family dynamics and mental health all wrapped up in an easy to read to read, entertaining contemporary fiction.