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

I thought that this book started off really well. Louisa and her husband Kip are happily married (or so it appears) and have three adult children. On Boxing Day, Kip drops the bombshell that he doesn’t love Louisa anymore and reveals that he is leaving her for his younger son’s ex-girlfriend. The aftermath of this decision throws the entire family into disarray.

The next few chapters are told from the perspective of different characters - as I read on, I noticed that I went from feeling sorry for Louisa because of her horrible husband's actions to feeling sorry for Kip because he just wanted to be happy. My own reactions intrigued me - I didn't know whose side I was on. I was really interested to read how Kip and Louisa were negotiating the breakdown of their marriage. However, things deteriorated a little after that. As the book continued, Louisa’s personality became more and more unbelievable to me. She is endlessly patient, reasonable and forgiving - it got to the point where I wondered just how badly a person would have to behave to actually make her reveal a character flaw.

The latter part of the book felt like as though it was rushing to tie up all the loose ends so I deducted one star for this and the improbability of Louisa's sainthood. This was my first time reading an Erica James novel and I will probably read more. I do like how she delves into the way in which marriage breakdown affects various family members and shows it from differing perspectives.

Thanks to Netgalley and HQ for an advance copy.

On Boxing Day husband Kip reveals he’s in love with a younger woman and is leaving wife of many years. This revelation has the effect of throwing into question every family member’s emotional relationship to each other. The highs and lows of these feelings are well explored and many emotional issues are thoughtfully addressed.
Very Joanna Trollope but an enjoyable 5 star read – until the final chapters. The ending is totally unbelievable. To arrive at that level of harmony in less than 12 months is totally unrealistic and spoils an otherwise good read.

I really enjoy Erica James novels and this was one of her best.
An Ideal Husband takes place over the course of a year after Louisa’s husband ends their marriage on Boxing Day, confessing to an affair with their son’s ex girlfriend. We follow Louisa, Kip, their 3 children and Kip’s girlfriend Zoe as they navigate a year filled with love, break ups and adapting to new lives.
This is a wonderful novel, filled with warmth and empathy. The characterisation was excellent and I felt that I got to know all of the family members and became invested in their lives. There are unexpected and heartwarming moments and a hugely satisfying ending. A perfect family drama ! Highly recommended.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.
4.5 stars

So lucky to read this as a review copy. Erica James never disappoints . You follow a family for a year after a father/ husband drops a bombshell on the family. You get some amazing twists . Even as grown ups parents splitting up hurts. We do take sides. I read this in an evening . Could not put it down. Perfect ending.

I have never read a novel by Erica James before but I was pleasantly surprised and I was engrossed from the first page.
The story is based on Louisa and the aftermath after her husband leaves her on
Boxing Day after having an affair with their son’s ex girlfriend.
I loved Louisa’s character and felt all the characters were very detailed showing both their flaws and strengths and I really felt like I was part of the family.
The story was heart breaking and really showed how fragile life can be and how quickly things can alter. However it was also heart warming and showed the importance of family and the strength this can bring.
An excellent story I thoroughly enjoyed and definitely can’t wait to read more of Erica’s books.
Thanks to netgalley, HQ and Erica James for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.