An Ideal Husband - Erica James

An easy read, but at times felt a little rushed. I did enjoy each family members POV, as this made it easier to get to know them and added good depth to the story. The only thing that let this one down for me was the ending as I was left a little flat thinking that it was a little implausible. However this would still not deter me from reading more books from this author as I have always enjoyed them in the past. Thanks so much Netgalley and HQ for this e-arc in return for my honest thoughts and opinions.

Always a pleasure to read an Erica James book. I particularly liked the cosy settings and descriptions of places and cottages / homes. This was a difficult read in places; a lot of heartache and breakdowns in relationships, but essentially a book about second chances and redemption. Highly recommend this wonderful writer if you are a fan of modern fiction based around family life.

Another great book by Erica James. This one of a family that is rocked when after 40 years of marriage the father asks for a divorce and it follows the life, story and fall out of this decision.

Easy read to get hooked on and lost in! These character were portrayed in such a raw manner, I’m in awe. I so loved how perfectly imperfect they were.

Erica James latest book is an engaging tale of a family. Kip and Louisa have been married for 40 years but when he asks for a divorce as he has fallen in love with someone else their lives are turned upside down. The impact on Kip and Louisa as well as their 3 grown up children is explored over the coming year. Erica James well drawn characters, mix of humour and pathos is a really good read.!

Highly recommended!

Thank you to NetGalley for my advance copy of An Ideal Husband by Erica James.
A story of any family and the dynamics between them. When one member decides they want something different how do the dynamics change for everyone. Can they work through it and come out intact, you’ll have to read the book to find out.
Will there be a happy ending?

What a great read yet again from Erica James.

Set in Suffolk (how I love to try and work out where some of the places are), Louisa and Kip have been married for nearly 40 years, they have twins Ashley and Arabella and a younger son Ashley.

On Boxing Day, Kip announces to Louisa he wants a divorce and leaves to live with his lover Zoe (who just happens to be Ashley's ex girlfriend) and 30 years younger than him.

The family find it tough dealing with their father after him leaving, and stunned when without discussing with Louise he puts the family home up for sale.

The book follows the year in their lives, with all the ups and downs of divorce, separation and unwanted / wanted pregnancies and the consequences that follow.

I couldn't put the book down, and really grew to love the characters with possibly the exception of Arabella's step-daughter Lexi.

I think most of us can relate to some of the things that happen in this book, which makes it such an enjoyable read.

This book held my attention throughout. That said, I never warmed to Kip. I did feel some empathy for him when he was ill, but disliked the way he treated Louisa. Louisa was lovely, but rather too saintly. I found some of the actions she took a tad unrealistic. As for the adult children, I liked Ashley and Angus, but Arabella didn't come across well at all. The ending was totally unrealistic, twee too, that that amount of harmony could happen in around 12 months . . . My main gripe though, despite liking this book overall (I felt compelled to read it to find out what happened), was that it seemed to be Kip's story, when really I feel it should have been Louisa's. We had Kip's p.o.v. at the end, when I feel Louisa should have had the last word. With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I enjoyed this book.

After being married for thirty years, Kip, Louisa's husband leaves her. She now has to think about what she does next, and how she handles what has happened.

Louisa is starting to get her life back into some sort of routine, on the other hand, Kip is finding it hard to deal with his new life, as well as his family and their feelings over what’s happened.

I recommend this book.

Ohmy goodness, Erica James does it again. Another I must read another chapter. I loved this book and could not putt down. Thank you so much for the chance to read this. I felt for Louisa as her life is tipped upside down, especially at Christmas. There is no good time! As her husband Kip decides the grass is greener, Louisa must re-evaluate her life and the direction in which it is to go now. With her children supporting her, even though they have their own issues she starts to build her life.
I have to say I know a lady like Louisa who is calm and very giving and would aspire to be like them if I found myself in this situation. I'm afraid to say I would not though! Sometimes I did want Louisa to stop being so nice though and give it to Kip both barrels, but this was not her character. She did have an inner core which helped her to make hard decisions and her positivity shone through. It is this that is aspirational.

As always, this book by Erica James was very entertaining and a book I found hard to put down. It is the story of a woman of a certain age who restarts her life and we learn of the trials and tribulations involved. She was an amazingly strong character, unlike her ex husband and I felt I was rooting for her throughout the tale. An excellent read.

This book felt a little different from previous Erica James books (I have read all of her books). There seemed to be more emphasis on the whole family story and how each generation/ individual dealt with the situation of an older couple divorcing and the consequences this has for the rest of the family, rather than concentrating on the main characters .and how they moved on and dealt emotionally with the divorce.
The book was interesting as we saw how a divorce can effect people in different ways and how they come to terms with the emotions that are thrown into this cauldron. Erica deals with this with beautifully and you are pulled from each character, wondering if there is anyone to blame or not.
A lovely read, that makes you think at the same time.

An Ideal Husband by Erica James

I really enjoy books by this author . She writes about all relationships and everything that being in one can bring , warts and all.
Louisa has been married for over thirty years to get husband Kip , she thought on the whole everything was ok.
Kip had other ideas and has his head turned in the most devastating of ways for Louisa , their sons girlfriend.
Louisa has to find a new way of living as a single woman and all the emotions that this break up brings.

When Louisa's husband Kip asks for a divorce on Boxing Day, it turns her world upside down - with three adult children, and grandchildren, she thought they were looking forward to their twilight years together in the home they have created. But when he sets up home with his son's ex-girlfriend, it seems that that will not be the case.

Louisa is forced to start again, and as expected there are implications for their whole family.

Erica James always delivers a brilliant domestic drama, with family tensions and brilliant descriptions of the world they occupy.

If I had one criticism, Louisa was far too understanding as a person, I feel that such a move from her life partner would have created far more animosity in real life!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Another fabulous book by Erica James........she never disappoints.

Louisa's husband, Kip, walks out on her after 30years of marriage and she has to regroup and deal with the massive changes that her life has thrown at her.
As she puts her life into order, Kip struggles with his new choices and with the family thrown into the mix, it's certainly not easy for Louisa.
Will she be able to make a fresh start and move on?

A brilliantly written book about the changes life can bring and how problems can be navigated and overcome.

Loved it.

The Langford family was torn apart when patriarch of the family, Kip, announces on Boxing Day that he wants a divorce from his wife Louisa. He is leaving her for his son's ex-girlfriend though they claim nothing ever happened between them while Zoe and Angus were still seeing each other. Though he was cheating on Louisa for several months prior to leaving her.

Kip is determined to the carefree life he feels like he's now entitled to but only a couple of months later he gets Zoe pregnant. This is not what he wanted and he ends up bailing on her then as he wonders if he made a mistake he starts to fall into a depression and suffers from panic attacks.

The novel doesn't really have any point to it but I like the way that each member of the family has their own POV so we get to see the whole picture from everyone's perspective. I enjoyed the story but I didn't love it for a couple of reasons, the conversations between family members often felt stilted and it wasn't written in a way that really flowed properly, and there was no end point to the story.

Thanks to NetGalley and HQ Stories for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

Found this a bit of a tough read.
Ostensibly about a marriage break up, Louisa is trying to come to terms with single life after her husband Kip, of thirty odd years decides he’d rather be with his son’s ex girlfriend.
The background of beautiful Suffolk and the very English family dynamics are interesting and well written but this story and the characters just didn’t grab me, and if anything found them to be a bit annoying, unrealistic, and unbelievable.
Usually love an Erica James book, but this one left me a little cold.
Not for me.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harpers for the early read.

I absolutely adore Erica James’s books and was very pleased to be able to give this one a read. The characters were all great and I flicked between who I was rooting and feeling sorry for. The story stirred up a few memories for me which I believe shows how well it was told. I think the end was a little unbelievable but who knows maybe these things do happen. A great read

Having read many of Erica James’ previous books, I was excited to read this. This is the story of Louisa and Kip, when Kip decides to tell Louisa their marriage is over on Boxing day, as he is in love with a younger woman, Louisa’s whole world is turned upside down. However, we, the reader take the journey to a new life with her, meeting great characters and situations, will Louisa get her happy ever after??

This is a very gentle story, the characters are well written and you empathise with them, even if you don’t always agree with their choices. I did enjoy it, though I found some of it a little improbable. The ending was nice and I would recommend this book. Thank you for this arc