Please God Send Me a Husband
This light, enjoyable read offers thoughtful advice for women seeking romantic guidance.
In this short and breezy work, Dr. Monique Rainford-Bourne offers easy-to-read advice directed at women seeking marriage. Her light tone, quick chapters, and many examples make Please God Send Me a Husband an intriguing and enjoyable read for those looking for romantic guidance, even if they do not share Rainford-Bourne’s spiritual background.
Rainford-Bourne divides her book into fifteen short chapters, from early, self-reflective ones such as “Are you really ready for love?” to chapters on dating such as “The search for Mr. Right,” all the way to her wrap-up in final chapters like “And they lived happily ever after.” Rainford-Bourne’s tone is optimistic yet practical, and she emphasizes throughout that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to dating and marriage, though there are certain red flags—such as early treatment, a man’s relationship with his family, and more—that are universal. Rainford-Bourne herself met her husband in her mid-thirties, after building a successful career that included graduation from Harvard Medical School, residency at Georgetown University Medical Center, and prestigious awards in medicine. Her advice is centered not only on the process of finding a husband, but on the wait itself and the necessity of patience and developing one’s hobbies and personal life in the meantime.
The organization and flow of Please God Send Me a Husband are a strength—most chapters are only a few pages long, broken up by narratives and anecdotes from women that the author interviewed who provide their insights on divorce, courtship, and more. Rainford-Bourne is always encouraging, but refrains from the know-it-all tone of many advice books, and instead strives to offer diverse perspectives on numerous topics. Her perspective is Christian, but she refrains from any preaching or harsh absolutes, instead keeping in mind a diverse audience with different needs and backgrounds.
Though Rainford-Bourne does discuss her own marriage, the book might have benefited from a more extensive discussion of her own personal viewpoints and background, perhaps with more details about how her own courtship with her husband progressed. In addition, some of the examples veer towards the generic, and one (Stacey and Shane) is repeated in the same form in the beginning and end of the book.
Overall, Please God Send Me a Husband is a light, enjoyable read that offers something for anyone currently going through this phase of their life. More serious and thoughtful than most dating advice books, while also maintaining brevity and lightness, the work is a perfect combination from an educated, friendly author.
Reviewed by
Stephanie Bucklin
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book and paid a small fee to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. Foreword Reviews and Clarion Reviews make no guarantee that the publisher will receive a positive review. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
