Listen free for 30 days

  • How Not to Hate Your Husband After Kids

  • Written by: Jancee Dunn
  • Narrated by: Jancee Dunn
  • Length: 7 hrs and 37 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (178 ratings)

1 credit a month, good for any title to download and keep.
The Plus Catalogue—listen all you want to thousands of Audible Originals, podcasts, and audiobooks.
$14.95 a month plus applicable taxes after 30 day trial. Cancel anytime.
How Not to Hate Your Husband After Kids cover art

How Not to Hate Your Husband After Kids

Written by: Jancee Dunn
Narrated by: Jancee Dunn
Try for $0.00

$14.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $38.59

Buy Now for $38.59

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Tax where applicable.

Publisher's Summary

A hilariously candid account of one woman's quest to bring her post-baby marriage back from the brink, with life-changing, real-world advice.

How Not to Hate Your Husband After Kids tackles the last taboo subject of parenthood: the startling, white-hot fury that new (and not-so-new) mothers often have for their mates. After Jancee Dunn had her baby, she found that she was doing virtually all the household chores, even though she and her husband worked equal hours. She asked herself: How did I become the "expert" at changing a diaper?

Many expectant parents spend weeks researching the best crib or safest car seat, but spend little if any time thinking about the titanic impact the baby will have on their marriage - and the way their marriage will affect their child.

Enter Jancee, her well-meaning but blithely unhelpful husband, their daughter, and her boisterous extended family, who show us the ways in which outmoded family patterns and traditions thwart the overworked, overloaded parents of today.

On the brink of marital Armageddon, Dunn plunges into the latest relationship research, solicits the counsel of the country's most renowned couples' and sex therapists, canvasses fellow parents, and even consults an FBI hostage negotiator on how to effectively contain an "explosive situation". Instead of having the same fights over and over, Dunn and her husband must figure out a way to resolve their larger issues and fix their family while there is still time. As they discover, adding a demanding new person to your relationship means you have to reevaluate - and rebuild - your marriage. In an exhilarating twist, they work together to save the day, happily returning to the kind of peaceful life they previously thought was the sole province of couples without children.

Part memoir, part self-help book with actionable and achievable advice, How Not to Hate Your Husband After Kids is an eye-opening look at how the man who got you into this position in this first place is the ally you didn't know you had.

©2017 Jancee Dunn (P)2017 Hachette Audio

What the critics say

"Jancee Dunn blends marital advice from real experts with her down to earth folksy wit in Hot Not to Hate Husband After Kids. If your husband has a better relationship with his phone than he does with his baby, you need to hit him with this book - and then ask him to read it." (Jen Mann, New York Times best-selling author of People I Want to Punch in the Throat)
"Part memoir, part self-help book, Jancee Dunn's How Not to Hate Your Husband After Kids offers relationship research combined with personal anecdotes. Strategies learned from therapists, friends, and even an FBI hostage negotiator help Dunn heal her marriage - and set a good example for her kid." ( Real Simple)
"This book is a very valuable addition to the whole huge transition to becoming parents. This book can help preserve the greatest gift you will ever give your baby: a loving relationship between the baby's parents." (John Gottman, author of The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work)

More from the same

What listeners say about How Not to Hate Your Husband After Kids

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    147
  • 4 Stars
    22
  • 3 Stars
    5
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    1
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    116
  • 4 Stars
    24
  • 3 Stars
    4
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    119
  • 4 Stars
    19
  • 3 Stars
    5
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    1

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

vulgar

It might've been a good pick if not for all the vulgar language. Not sure why they decided to ruin what could've been a perfectly good book with so much swearing.

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Really enjoyed it

Real life advice

Especially if your husband claims to be a feminist in theory but not in actions

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

First half was great. But the bar is still low by the end.

The first half was awesome. I thought “wow, she is bang on.” But as the boom progressed, we see how she just comes to terms with still doing everything but having an occasional 45 minute playground break from her husband. Sad really. The bar really is low for husbands. I thought it would end with some great ways she’s really been able to share the workload and mental load, but it doesn’t. Definitely has a few strategies to help you cope as a woman doing everything, but I thought it would be more of a revelation.

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Well done!

Super well done book. Applicable and real advice. Worth the read and the stories are great.

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Skeptical at first but so good!

When I first read the title, I was a little skeptical.
But after having 3 kids… I wanted a book with a little humour. This book is quite funny, and so much more. I highly recommend this book. It is well written and well researched.
It has actually made a difference in my marriage. I like how validating the author is and that she also looks at the situation from the husbands point of view.
I was sad when the book was over.
Thank you Jancee

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A "must read" for new Moms (and Dads too)!

Loved this book! Well researched with solid academic rigour and very approachable narrative writting style. I saw so much of my own experiences as a busy, married professional mom with 2 young kids. I commend the author's honesty and openess in discussing her life and experiences. I am sure she has helped so many parents in feeling they are not alone in this very difficult modern parenting journey. I know I will frequently revisit sections that were meaningful for me and have shared with so many of my friends with young families! Great listen for Dads too. My husband has found it very insightful!

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Meh

I love audio books but could just not get into the narration and stay engaged. I read 5 hours and then abandoned it. Maybe it gets better? I also could not relate to the relationship described. I was hoping it would be less anecdotal as every relationship is so different. Just not my jam.

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

*****

Easy applicable suggestions. Has depth without droning on. Going to be listening to a second time with spouse. A little cuss-y so I suggest not to read around little ears

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

great book

the fact that she gives personal examples. is asking, you can really relate. and lots of amazing tips on how to interact with you children, to help them grow to be successful adults. I will be re reading this book for sure

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Just want I needed to hear

A wonderful blend of humour and education. I feel I can use the tools in my day to redirect my relationship. Thanks for writing this real talk book.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Oldschoolreasons
  • Oldschoolreasons
  • 2019-04-25

Not quite what I was hoping for.

First, let me say that I am a guy and my wife bought this audible book… so take everything below with a grain of salt.

Overall, I think this book misses the mark on parenting for moms and dads. There are a lot of studies mentioned, many of them about how much “better” women are than men at various things. And, the overall tone is similar in that moms are the master parents and dads are idiot robots meant to be manipulated by their partner and serve as glorified babysitters to the children.

The bottom line is that moms and dads are different today than they were yesterday, and will be different again tomorrow. I know a few parenting situations where the dad is indeed a deadbeat parent; I know others where the mom is the deadbeat. And, let’s not forget all the single parents figuring things out anyway they can, including a rising number of single dads. That being said, parenting is hard, and initially the Mom is likely to carry the team as pregnancy, birth, and breastfeeding are unmatchable endeavors and fortify the mother-baby relationship early on. But carrying the team does not equal being the GM, and even if you’re the star, you still need the team to succeed (or at least it really helps!). Mom and Dads should be co-captains of the team and share mutual respect for the other in that responsibility, and know that that shared respect and responsibility is forever fluid in direction, depth, and distribution. This book lacks that respect needed for parents today and tomorrow. It’s written to highlight parents from yesterday, but in today’s setting.

I hope my wife skips this book, but if she does listen to it, there is certainly plenty of worthwhile content, not to mention an engaging narrator (the author). The booked flowed smoothly and was very easy to listen to. I really liked the author and suspect that her and “Tom” are doing well these days. I just feel a few less studies, or at least more context and background on them, and a subtle change to the tone/theme would make this an easy 5 star book.

51 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for jillianfrances
  • jillianfrances
  • 2018-11-12

Must listen for all new parents

I downloaded this book after an argument with my husband. He told me he was going to go outside and start the grill and didn’t come back for two hours. Meanwhile, I was inside entertaining our ten month old and growing ever more resentful. Why was I the default caregiver while he came and went as he pleased? When I complained, he wanted to know why I didn’t ask for help? And in return, I wanted to know why I had to ask.

This book goes into all of that and more. I downloaded it the next morning, took the dog for a walk, and peed my pants laughing about a mile from my house. Darn those pelvic floor issues. Since then, I’ve recommended it to all my friends and my nine month pregnant sister who is already complaining about her husband.

This book is not about bashing men. It could be re-titled “How Not to Hate Your Partner...” It helped me understand how I was contributing to our issues as new parents through poor communication and the inabiiity to communicate my needs. There is lots of actionable advice within the content, and I appreciated the mix of anecdotes and research.

27 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Jen
  • Jen
  • 2017-05-10

Excellent Book! Title should be changed though...

Where does How Not to Hate Your Husband After Kids rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is a great book, very fun to listen to, I laughed out loud!

What was one of the most memorable moments of How Not to Hate Your Husband After Kids?

Her therapy session with the scary therapist and getting pointers from the FBI negotiators

What about Jancee Dunn’s performance did you like?

She is funny, light hearted, and tells the truth

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

yes

Any additional comments?

YES! It should REalLy be "how not to hate your SPOUSE after kids" - I want my husband to listen to it but it is hard to with the title. However, this book teaches amazing things about conflict resolution in general, as well as how to NOT damage your kids when fighting with your spouse. I seriously think you should consider putting it out with a new title, it is a must read for every married couple... Marriage is hard, and a lot of what is covered in this book is not talked about often enough... it is nice to know we are all in the same boat! I highly recommend this book...

17 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for SarahBethYoga
  • SarahBethYoga
  • 2018-05-12

How to hate your husband

This book was all complaints. I kept listening just to see if it would get better. Really frustrating and disapointing.

8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for kregar1
  • kregar1
  • 2020-06-06

Great research & tips after 1st few chapters; helpful any age parenting with kids

The 1st chapters were almost hard to hear, the title of the books sounds intense- BUT KEEP LISTENING! she soon gets to the facts/advice/professional opinions. We have all had that ultra angry moment with our spouse, however (sorry to Jancee’s husband Tom) he was SO checked out haha I was upset for her and not me all of the sudden!! Relieved to say my husband wasn’t as bad haha but so glad to go on the evolving journey with them to from: a direct talking counselor in couples counseling, to wonderful research statistics, experiments, & examples of good and bad times. She gives tips on how to communicate better that she has learned from Gary Chapman and FBI negotiators 😂. Statistics from Helen Fisher, and so many more professionals. My husband and I recently changed roles in that I am not working all the sudden. We used to be nearly 50/50 just due to the fact that someone else watched our child 8+ hours a day. I needed guidance on what is fair now that my Son is my job and my family! This book has helped me to embrace my time with my child, not take score so much, communicate better, and discuss our goals. Also the gender role : we talk about being open but this books made me think “so what are we SHOWING our future son {to be spouse/partner hopefully male who can cook a meal one day}?” She makes great points and emphasis about what we DO. If I am always sweeping, mopping, vacuuming- my white male toddler may grow up to expect that. We now diversity roles every so often. We embrace family time and needed alone or date nights. It is worth a read!!!! Thank you Jancee for letting us step into your family. Thanks for the honesty we all need to hear! Thanks Tom being the guinea pig 🤣

6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Amazon Customer
  • Amazon Customer
  • 2018-12-12

Swears right off

I was disappointed to hear a string of curse words within the first five minutes. I didn’t listen any farther.

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Amazon Customer
  • Amazon Customer
  • 2018-02-10

Loved how the research was made accessible

I loved how this writer incorporated so much research into this book in an accessible and entertaining fashion. I was laughing and writing notes often throughout listening to this. Also, the last chapter was a helpful summary and reminder of everything covered.

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Aubrey Troxell
  • Aubrey Troxell
  • 2022-12-16

Hard to relate to lifestyle well narrated

Not very relatable to have two full time stay at home parents with trips biking vineyards in California and the other interviewing celebrities. Try a blue collar 8-5 father and a full time office spouse or part time working wife the problems are completely different and this book could have been way more helpful. Wish there was more on clutter and making time to clean with two kids like hurricanes

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for M Wyatt
  • M Wyatt
  • 2017-03-24

You don't need a husband or kids to appreciate!

You don't need a husband or kids to appreciate the insight shared in this book! Was emailed a link to the Jezebel article about it by my boyfriend and finished it in two days. Definitely recommend for anyone who is building a life with a partner.

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Maur
  • Maur
  • 2017-05-22

So much good info even if married without kids!

She is so funny and so smart to both fix her marriage and get paid for it!! Love this book and every professional she consulted with to help her. I even love the comedians she quotes. Terry Real is the bomb! I love him and Esther too. Well done Jancee!!
I'm on my 3 X listening to this book back to back. It has become the sound track to my life.

2 people found this helpful