Husband Hunters

By: Rick R. Reed

Narrated by: Wesley Landry

Length: 7 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

You never know where the love of your life might turn up. When Matt Connelly suggests to his best buddy Cody Mook that they head to downtown Seattle to audition for the gay reality TV show Husband Hunters, both agree the experience might be a lark and a chance to grab their fifteen minutes of fame.

What they don't know is that the show, modeled after HGTV's House Hunters, will open doors of longing neither expected. For Matt, the secret love he has long harbored for Cody might be thrust into the spotlight. Cody might realize his search for his perfect-forever-man extends no farther than the man who's always been at his side.

Husband Hunters promises laughter, tears, and, just maybe, a happy ever after. Will Cody and Matt's story be one of best-friends-to-lovers—or an outright disaster?

©2023 Rick R. Reed (P)2024 Rick R. Reed

Loved the Premise

I’m a fan of this author, and I was definitely interested in reading/listening to this story because it’s such a departure from his other works that I’ve read. The premise is such a fun idea, like House Hunters but shopping husbands instead of homes. I’m sorry to say that as a romance it didn’t quite come together for me. I think the main reason is that I didn’t really want to see Matt and Cody together. Matt is lovely and the highlight of the story to me, as this author writes wonderful characters. Cody, I’m not sure deserves Matt or maybe their connection felt too one sided to me. The narrator does an overall nice job with bringing the characters to life and the premise was entertaining.

Great Listen

This audio is a different read than I am used to from this author, however it is a great read and the romance takes center stage. I love the premise on House Hunters changing to looking for a husband instead of a house!

a

Loved this friends to lovers story set to the backdrop of a reality TV series. Those shows always seem depressing to me in real life, so it was lovely here to see the fictional one give Matt and Cody the chance to understand what they really have together. I really enjoyed listening to Wesley Landry narrate this one. He brought the characters to life and in the descriptive passages was great to listen to.

Best Friends to Lovers in a Different Way

I liked the idea of this book, so I was happy to be able to listen to it. I enjoy Rick R. Reed's books, but this one was a little different. Matt and Cody end up together, but it's in a different way. I wish we had more of them as a couple. The narrator did a good job with the story.

Can Reality TV Bring Best Friends Toghether?

With a clever ‘House Hunters’-style premise, Rick R Reed tells the romantic story of Cody and Matt. While Cody spends much of the book keeping Matt firmly in the friends-zone, Matt is angst-ing over his unrequited love for his best friend. Will they ever find their way to each other? Well, if reality-TV show ‘Husband Hunters’ has any sway in the matter, the answer is yes. Listen as two best friends, and a couple of matchmaking TV producers, slowly make love happen. ‘Husband Hunters’ is an enchanting story on every level.

Narrator Wesley Landry, who narrates Reed’s ‘The Couple Next Door’ (also a good listen), does a wonderful job conveying the personalities of both Matt and Cody. He delivers a splendid performance throughout.

interesting Concept

This book is an interesting concept. I like the reality show aspect. Shopping for husbands house hunters style is fun. Matt and Cody and a couple were not my fave couple. the book is a cute and definitely worth the listen.

Excellent!

This author is really one of my favorites, and this book is another reason why. Cody is looking for a husband but seems to be looking in all the wrong people. Matt is the best friend who picks up the pieces when Cody's latest fling doesn't work. The premise is maybe a little silly, but I loved seeing them slowly realize their feelings for each other. There are fabulous side charcaters as well. This is a slow burn, well-written book.

Slow burn friends to lovers

So as I started listening to this I came to realize I read this one years ago and I have to say listening to it now I did enjoy it more than when I initially read it. It happens every once in a while when I go on to listen to something I have already read. This has an interesting premise that was done well, it is a sadly sweet story and much like I read it though I do wish we had more on page of the MCs together but overall I did enjoy this listen and the narration was done really well

This Friends-to-Lovers Story Needed Better Friends

The premise - finding love on a reality show that is really a friends-to-lovers story - sounded promising. But I didn't find the love connection between Matt and Cody all that convincing, mostly because of Cody. (And this may be spoiler-ish, but if MCs hooking up with others on-page prior to their coupling up isn't your cup of tea, fair warning.)

Sweetheart Matt is secretly in love with Cody, his longtime best friend, and I struggled the whole story to see why. Cody isn't even that great of a friend, he's selfish and immature, and his rebuff of Matt after the man finally admits his feelings was heartbreaking.

It certainly didn't leave a good taste for setting up their eventual pairing, when Matt is on the verge of finding happiness with another and a jealous Cody finally gets his head out of his bum. I kept thinking, "You snooze, you lose." Truly, I was rooting for Matt and cameraman Tre to sail off into the Seattle sunset together.

The narration didn't really help reel me in to the story either. This was my first time hearing this narrator, and their delivery was alright... not unpleasant, but there also wasn't much variation between character voices or emotion put into the performance. It fell a little flat overall.

4 to 4.25 stars for me...

The premise of the book is actually pretty funny. I do not know anyone who has not seen an episode of House Hunters, so to then read a book about a tv show using the same premise but for dating. One man getting to go on three dates and then proposing to one.. a little over the top on the proposing but its tv and for ratings...

Matt and Cody are both teachers and the perfect wingmen for each other. While they may hit the bars together, Matt goes home alone and Cody hardly ever goes home alone. Matt hears they are looking for some locals to be on the next installation of the show, he talks Cody into trying out. Matt has always crushed on Cody and it became clear enough during their tryouts that the show added a twist when they hired both to be on the show.

Will both Matt and Cody agree to be on the show? Will Matt finally tell Cody how he feels? When their true feelings are exposed will it backfire not only for the show but for their "friendship"? Who moves on first? Can they recover from the pain they have caused each other?

At times I thought this was going to be a different book. In the end I decided I enjoyed it.