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Friday, September 3, 2021

Review: "Husband Auditions" by Angela Ruth Strong


You know how sometimes you hear about a book and think it sounds super adorable? As soon as I read the tagline for Husband Auditions, I knew it was a book I wanted to read. And it turned out to be just as fun as I'd hoped it would be!


How far would you go to find the perfect husband? All the way back to the 1950s?

In a world full of happily-ever-after love, Meri Newberg feels like the last young woman on the planet to be single, at least in her Christian friend group. So when she's handed a strange present at the latest wedding--a 1950s magazine article of "ways to get a husband"--she decides there's nothing to lose by trying out its advice. After all, she can't get any more single, can she?

Her brother's roommate sees the whole thing as a great opportunity. Not to fall in love--Kai Kamaka has no interest in the effort a serious relationship takes. No, this is a career jump start. He talks Meri into letting him film every silly husband-catching attempt for a new online show. If it goes viral, his career as a cameraman will be made.

When Meri Me debuts, it's an instant hit. People love watching her lasso men on street corners, drop handkerchiefs for unsuspecting potential beaus, and otherwise embarrass herself in pursuit of true love. But the longer this game goes on, the less sure Kai is that he wants Meri to snag anyone but him. The only problem is that he may not be the kind of husband material she's looking for . . .

With droll comic timing, unbeatable chemistry, and a zany but relatable cast of characters, Angela Ruth Strong has created a heartfelt look at the reality of modern Christian dating that readers will both resonate with and fall for.


What a fun read! I knew this book and I would get along when I read the first line: "I hated My Best Friend's Wedding." Why? Because I also hated that movie! As I kept reading, I just kept falling deeper and deeper for this novel.

It's laugh-out-loud funny (and it takes a lot to make me laugh when reading). It has pop culture references galore. Kai's "ah-ha" moment comes during a sermon about the toilet paper verse (James 4:17 - "So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin." This verse has basically haunted me my entire life and is the reason I always replace the toilet paper roll 🤣). Plus, it's actually not entirely predictable.

I really enjoyed watching Meri and Kai fall for each other while they worked through the ridiculous list, and I felt like their actions and reactions through the process were completely realistic. (Did I audibly yell at Kai a couple times near the end of the book? Yes, yes I did.) Husband Auditions is definitely more than a silly romcom -- it also contains poignant messages about marriage, honesty, and growth. This is a book that will make you laugh while making you think, and I highly recommend it to contemporary romance lovers! 5 stars.

Buy the book (Amazon ad).

Read my review of Strong's Christmas Ella (in the Once Upon a Christmas collection, 4 stars).

Giveaway! Enter through the Rafflecopter to win a copy of the book!







Angela Ruth Strong sold her first Christian romance novel in 2009, then quit writing romance when her husband left her. Ten years later, God has shown her the true meaning of love, and there’s nothing else she’d rather write about.

Strong’s books have since earned Top Pick honors in Romantic Times, won the Cascade Award, and been Amazon best sellers. Her book Finding Love in Big Sky recently filmed on location in Montana and will air soon. She also writes articles for SpiritLed Woman.

To help aspiring authors, she started IDAhope Writers where she lives in Idaho, and she teaches as an expert online at Write That Book.

Besides writing, Strong teaches exercise classes, works for an airline, and enjoys Harley rides with her husband and camping with her three kids.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review through Read With Audra. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

1 comment:

  1. This was a good book! Glad to hear you enjoyed it too.

    ReplyDelete