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adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Antisemitism, Pregnancy, Pandemic/Epidemic
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really really enjoyed this when I really didn't expect to! The girls were right, it's a banger. I was immediately so invested in the story. Lauren comes home from a night out drinking with friends to a strange man in her house claiming to be her husband, but she's never met him before and when she left for the outing, she was single and living alone. What would you do??
One of my favorite things about this book was Lauren's authenticity. I felt like her reactions to these crazy magic scenarios were very real, whether it works out for the best or not. She cycles through husband after husband testing the limits of her suddenly magical attic's ability to start her world right over while time continues to pass. She tries on many different lives and versions of herself. It's fascinating and very fun, sometimes stressful to go through those experiences with her, and it's fascinating to watch her figure out what she truly wants. It raises questions like 'How do we learn to be happy with what we have rather than concerned with the things we want to change? How can we be certain those changes would truly make our lives better?'
Good read. Enjoyed the audiobook a lot, the narrator did a fantastic job with the many accents and expressive speech that I think added a lot.
One of my favorite things about this book was Lauren's authenticity. I felt like her reactions to these crazy magic scenarios were very real, whether it works out for the best or not. She cycles through husband after husband testing the limits of her suddenly magical attic's ability to start her world right over while time continues to pass. She tries on many different lives and versions of herself. It's fascinating and very fun, sometimes stressful to go through those experiences with her, and it's fascinating to watch her figure out what she truly wants. It raises questions like 'How do we learn to be happy with what we have rather than concerned with the things we want to change? How can we be certain those changes would truly make our lives better?'
Good read. Enjoyed the audiobook a lot, the narrator did a fantastic job with the many accents and expressive speech that I think added a lot.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Vomit, Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Pregnancy
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was both entertaining and thought-provoking. At times it was funny or lighthearted, and at other times more serious and reflective. It was refreshing in that it was not an overdone storyline, the only other book I know of with a similar concept is The Midnight Library, but the vibe is very different. I was very impressed to learn this was a debut novel, and look forward to what she writes in the future!
Content Warnings
Minor: Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Abandonment
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Generally enjoyed reading it. I read this in tandem with my partner, which meant we would laugh over the jokes together. Good humor, good insight on diverse versions of men. Lauren is boring, and I felt that the twist at the climax made me realize we don't really know who Lauren is at all. I couldn't make sense of most of her actions, and the ending served as a reminder of her selfishness. This is a perfect example of either too short or too long; this could've been a novella or it must be 400+ pages long. Unfortunately, the last 100 pages felt rushed and as if the author just needed Lauren to do whatever (and very extreme things) just to rush the plot toward the finish line. Disappointing with little payoff. I enjoyed the tone and the characters as well as the concept and setting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Car accident, Pregnancy
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use, Gun violence
Minor: Vomit
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Vomit
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use, Gun violence, Sexual content, Vomit
Minor: Bullying, Toxic relationship
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A new favorite for sure! Gramazio artfully explores the "what if?" thought exercise to the extreme. I saw so much of myself in Lauren, and couldn't help but wonder if I would go to similar extremes were I in her position. I thought the added details of the apartment changing with each husband and an entire history rewrite were brilliant! I felt her relief, her grief, and her mounting frustration and desperation. Her burnout was nearly palpable.
The ending was satisfying, I think it was the perfect solution and provided a clean wrap-up of events. Part of me hopes that there will be a sequel where we get to explore the final decision and its aftermath, and part of me recognizes how perfect this was as a stand-alone novel. I look forward reading any future works by Holly Gramazio!
The ending was satisfying, I think it was the perfect solution and provided a clean wrap-up of events. Part of me hopes that there will be a sequel where we get to explore the final decision and its aftermath, and part of me recognizes how perfect this was as a stand-alone novel. I look forward reading any future works by Holly Gramazio!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Blood, Grief, Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Stalking, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
“And it's nice of him, but the conversation drags and he is again chewing with his mouth open and she's sorry, but she's going to have to send him back.”
This is, I think, one of those “it’s not you, it’s me” moments. Objectively I think this is a good book! I just did not enjoy it unfortunately.
The Husbands is really funny; it follows Lauren, who comes home after a night out with friends to find a strange man in her home. But even stranger- she finds out she’s married to this man and him and everyone in her life has recollection of them being together. Stranger yet- when he goes up into the attic, he is replaced by a new husband!
I think the writing in this is really good and definitely very funny. I like all the different quirks of the different husbands, they have super unique characteristics that are hilarious and add so much to the story and premise. I loved the idea of it and I definitely get the commentary about modern dating and dating apps. At the end of the day it just left me feeling bored and I never wanted to pick it up. I did not feel very connected or invested in the main character. So much happened, but also nothing happened? It felt really long and dragged out for minimal payoff.
If it sounds up your alley I still would recommend giving it a try! I really wanted it to work for me.
This is, I think, one of those “it’s not you, it’s me” moments. Objectively I think this is a good book! I just did not enjoy it unfortunately.
The Husbands is really funny; it follows Lauren, who comes home after a night out with friends to find a strange man in her home. But even stranger- she finds out she’s married to this man and him and everyone in her life has recollection of them being together. Stranger yet- when he goes up into the attic, he is replaced by a new husband!
I think the writing in this is really good and definitely very funny. I like all the different quirks of the different husbands, they have super unique characteristics that are hilarious and add so much to the story and premise. I loved the idea of it and I definitely get the commentary about modern dating and dating apps. At the end of the day it just left me feeling bored and I never wanted to pick it up. I did not feel very connected or invested in the main character. So much happened, but also nothing happened? It felt really long and dragged out for minimal payoff.
If it sounds up your alley I still would recommend giving it a try! I really wanted it to work for me.
Content Warnings
Minor: Gun violence, Infidelity, Sexual content, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury