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A review by litwithleigh
Good Husbands by Cate Ray
5.0
HAPPY PUB DAY TO ONE OF MY 2022 FAVES!!!
Btw I'm hosting a giveaway for THREE copies of this amazing novel from June 8-June 12 on my Instagram (@girlwiththepinkskimask).
Thank you Cate Ray and Park Row for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. IYKYK, my reviews are always honest.
BIG ASS TRIGGER WARNING sexual assault/violence
Writing: 4/5 | Plot: 5/5 | Ending: 5/5
THE PLOT
Three wives, Jess, Stephanie, and Priyanka, receive the same letter accusing their husbands of gang raping and impregnating a woman 30 years ago, forever upturning their lives, marriages, and core beliefs.
MY OPINION
I WANT TO MAKE THIS VERY CLEAR: If you are looking for a beach read, cozy mystery, or your avg commercial/popcorn thriller, THIS IS NOT IT. This is a contemporary fiction novel with layers and strong messaging. If you want to explore society's core beliefs around sexual assault, women's issues, and marriage, this is the one.
I am giving this 5 stars because I consider the messaging extremely thoughtful, intelligent, and ON POINT. Cate Ray expertly incorporates many facts and figures about rape in the UK, making this an educational read as well. And beyond the main theme of the book, she NAILS the power imbalance in Stephanie and Dan's marriage. It really hit close to home for me.
The next reason for my 5 star endorsement is the characters. WOW. Each character is masterfully crafted and intentional with stellar development throughout the book. They each not only represent the three main viewpoints on rape (she deserved it, riding the fence/neutral, and the firm "I'm with her" believer) BUT they also represent the three phases of grief: denial, bargaining, and anger.
So, not only do you get a layered look at the WHY behind their beliefs (right back to their childhood) but you see their grief journey toward acceptance. I also appreciated that the author didn't make any of them sexual violence survivors, and therefore not creating an obvious alignment. You don't need to burn yourself to know fire is hot.
This book will certainly be polarizing in the same way as [b:My Dark Vanessa|44890081|My Dark Vanessa|Kate Elizabeth Russell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1583447793l/44890081._SY75_.jpg|67044583]. You will feel frustrated, sad, hopeless, and (hopefully) empowered. LET ME REPEAT MYSELF: If you do not want to get your "SJW" on, then this isn't the book for you. If you want to explore the complexities of society's beliefs about sexual assault and survivors, then this is the one.
I gave this book 4/5 on writing because the style is very particular. It isn't a Shakespearean masterpiece, but I appreciated the lack of closed caption details. The book really hit its stride in the last 50%.
I am so glad I read this. I was highlighting passages like a mf. Thank you Cate Ray for such a powerful book about sexual assault, marriage, and grief.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: character development, expert representation of the three core beliefs about sexual assault and survivors as well as the stages of grief, deep understanding of emotionally abusive relationships, great look at the WHY behind our beliefs, informative stats included
Cons: if I'm being picky, the writing quality wasn't bangerlicious but I don't consider it bad.
Btw I'm hosting a giveaway for THREE copies of this amazing novel from June 8-June 12 on my Instagram (@girlwiththepinkskimask).
Thank you Cate Ray and Park Row for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. IYKYK, my reviews are always honest.
BIG ASS TRIGGER WARNING sexual assault/violence
Writing: 4/5 | Plot: 5/5 | Ending: 5/5
THE PLOT
Three wives, Jess, Stephanie, and Priyanka, receive the same letter accusing their husbands of gang raping and impregnating a woman 30 years ago, forever upturning their lives, marriages, and core beliefs.
MY OPINION
I WANT TO MAKE THIS VERY CLEAR: If you are looking for a beach read, cozy mystery, or your avg commercial/popcorn thriller, THIS IS NOT IT. This is a contemporary fiction novel with layers and strong messaging. If you want to explore society's core beliefs around sexual assault, women's issues, and marriage, this is the one.
I am giving this 5 stars because I consider the messaging extremely thoughtful, intelligent, and ON POINT. Cate Ray expertly incorporates many facts and figures about rape in the UK, making this an educational read as well. And beyond the main theme of the book, she NAILS the power imbalance in Stephanie and Dan's marriage. It really hit close to home for me.
The next reason for my 5 star endorsement is the characters. WOW. Each character is masterfully crafted and intentional with stellar development throughout the book. They each not only represent the three main viewpoints on rape (she deserved it, riding the fence/neutral, and the firm "I'm with her" believer) BUT they also represent the three phases of grief: denial, bargaining, and anger.
So, not only do you get a layered look at the WHY behind their beliefs (right back to their childhood) but you see their grief journey toward acceptance. I also appreciated that the author didn't make any of them sexual violence survivors, and therefore not creating an obvious alignment. You don't need to burn yourself to know fire is hot.
This book will certainly be polarizing in the same way as [b:My Dark Vanessa|44890081|My Dark Vanessa|Kate Elizabeth Russell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1583447793l/44890081._SY75_.jpg|67044583]. You will feel frustrated, sad, hopeless, and (hopefully) empowered. LET ME REPEAT MYSELF: If you do not want to get your "SJW" on, then this isn't the book for you. If you want to explore the complexities of society's beliefs about sexual assault and survivors, then this is the one.
I gave this book 4/5 on writing because the style is very particular. It isn't a Shakespearean masterpiece, but I appreciated the lack of closed caption details. The book really hit its stride in the last 50%.
I am so glad I read this. I was highlighting passages like a mf. Thank you Cate Ray for such a powerful book about sexual assault, marriage, and grief.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: character development, expert representation of the three core beliefs about sexual assault and survivors as well as the stages of grief, deep understanding of emotionally abusive relationships, great look at the WHY behind our beliefs, informative stats included
Cons: if I'm being picky, the writing quality wasn't bangerlicious but I don't consider it bad.