It is no secret that many of us mothers have lost hours daydreaming of an alternate reality where life would be easier, equally divided with our other halves, and/or better. The Husbands introduces us to Nora, an expecting mother of two, who grapples with the chaos that ensues being a mother, pregnant and a prominent member of a personal injury law firm. While she considers purchasing a property in the Dynasty Ranch, she becomes entangled in a house fire investigation, while getting to know the power women who live there and seem to have the husbands of her dreams.

The story builds slow but I really enjoyed navigating through Nora's headspace (which felt all too familiar at times), the investigation into a possible wrongful death, the sisterhood of the Dynasty Ranch women and the interwoven blogs that expressed stressors I know many women to grapple with.


Thank you Macmillan audio and Netgalley for the gifted copy of The Husbands.

Women can do anything, but they can’t do everything. This is the mantra of the women who reside in the exclusive Dynasty Ranch neighborhood. Who hasn’t wanted a partner that anticipates every need, serves selflessly and has unwavering support? THE HUSBANDS is a domestic drama that explores what it would be like for women to have it all.

I appreciated Chandler Baker’s snarky social commentary on gender roles, specifically the division of labor within a marriage. I know many women will feel seen by the burdens of juggling family life and a career.

The novel’s relatability is its biggest strength. Where it lost momentum was the superfluous details of the daily grind. While there is a suspicious death and tragic accident, the suspense of the plot was bogged down in the details. By the time we finally got to the “big reveal” it fell flat with its predictability and implausibility. Additionally, the supporting characters weren’t distinctive; I had a hard time keeping track of which high-powered career woman was doing what.

Overall, this was a light-hearted read with an insightful critique of the status quo. If you enjoy a gossipy neighborhood drama with a gender-swapped Stepford Wives premise, this one may work well for you!

RATING: 3.5/5 stars (rounded up)

A big thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝:⁣⁣⁣⁣
◘ It was refreshing how relatable Nora was. Very, very realistic characters.
◘ Allyson Ryan was a fantastic narrator!
◘ That book cover!!! Freaking eye-catching as hell.
⁣⁣⁣
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐝:⁣⁣⁣⁣
◘ A bit of a slow burn. 𝘈𝘭𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 too slow for me.
◘ I thought this would focus more on the wrongful death case and its investigation. It's definitely on the back burner and just a side story as opposed to the real plot. But that's not necessarily the author's fault.
◘ Predictable "twists".
⁣⁣⁣
Was the ending obvious? Yes. I didn't know if it was truly supposed to be a mystery, but don't go into this thinking it's a thriller. 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧'𝐬 𝐅𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 is definitely appropriate. Also if you're a new mom, like me, this might hit too close to home. The arguments and frustrations between the husband and wife were all too real for me. But it wasn't offputting. It was actually hilarious how spot-on Chandler was.

Thank you to NetGalley and Chandler Baker for this Audio-ARC.

Nora Spangler and her husband Hayden have a typical relationship. Nora is the custodial parent who does the day to day things to care for their child. In addition to that she is a successful lawyer and is pregnant with their 2nd child. They find a bigger house that Nora falls in love with! The ladies of the neighborhood seem to take to her and request her services. One of the women in the group's husband died in a tragic house fire. It's Nora's job to find out what happened and see if Penny is due any money. Through this group of women she finds a couples counselor and she talks her husband into a few sessions. From these sessions there seems to come a change for the better. But is it really for the better for everyone?

This is the second book by this author that I've read. While I enjoyed this book much more than Whisper Network it still was not my favorite book this year. I felt as if the main character spent majority of this book whining. Don't get me wrong she is correct that most husbands don't even know how much a working mother does. However, she has literally never even asked her husband to assist more. You don't win by clicking marks on a scoreboard. The psychology behind the counseling was very interesting to me. Sounds like a simple reward program which is fairly easy to maneuver. we do it to children after all with a reward chart. The plotline seemed to be over convenient. I wouldn't call this a great feminist read. It was entertaining but not groundbreaking.

I loved Whisper Network, but this novel didn't hit it out of the park for me. I really only had two issues, both of which are specific to my needs and wants in a book: (1) I thought the book was too long; and (2) I saw the twist coming, unfortunately.

There are, however, NUMEROUS things about this book that I ADORED: (1) All the funny (and true jokes) about what it's like to be a woman. Even as someone who doesn't have children (does my dog count?), I do the laundry, clean, do the dishes, etc. etc. Sometimes I feel as though my husband is a child as I pick up after him; (2) She's killing it as a lawyer (I'm one myself). While our practice areas highly differ, the stress that lawyers face is exhausting and Chandler was able to portray that; and (3) The audiobook narrator was fantastic.

Now for a brief synopsis: Nora is an attorney, who is essentially supermom, doing it all. While her husband means well, he doesn't understand all of the tasks that Nora keeps in line. Between keeping up with work, her husband, her toddler and her growing belly, Nora is also looking for a new house, is coming to terms with an accident, and making new friends. Nora's life is hectic, but she has no idea that it's about to explode.

This book was one wild reading ride! In all transparency, I didn't totally love Chandler Baker's last novel, The Whisper Network, but decided to give this one a go because the summary was just so intriguing. And I am so glad I did!

I would classify The Husbands as a feminist thriller/"motherhood noir" that left me turning the pages while also nodding my head in agreement. Baker's writing kept me guessing while also affirming so many things that run through my head every single (sometimes very monotonous) day as a working mother and wife.

I enjoy a slow-burn domestic suspense novel that results in a satisfying ending, and The Husbands was just that. While the characters and plotlines were a bit over the top, they stood for something very, very real. I let myself escape into this world of powerful women and found myself rooting for Nora, the main character while needing to know more!

This cautionary tale is witty and also perfectly exposes the struggles many women face when "wanting to do it all" when we only having so much time and space in our days (and heads!). In this instance, the men and women have swapped gender roles, thus allowing these female characters the bandwidth to accomplish their goals...but at what cost??

This is the perfect balance of (so very relevant) social commentary, mixed with a murder mystery. I would have loved for Nora's husband Hayden to be a bit more fleshed out, but all in all, this is a great summer read that also left me with much to think about. This would also make a fantastic summer 2021 book club pick! 4.5/5 stars.

This was wonderful in the audiobook format and the narration was engaging and enjoyable to listen to.

Thank you to Flatiron Books for my gifted copy.

Part thriller, part sci-fi, this was just middle of the road for me. The Husbands follows Nora: pregnant with her second child, trying to make partner at her law firm, and resentful of her husband, on a quest to find a new home. When Nora stumbles upon Dynasty Ranch, things seem too good to be true. Nora quickly becomes enveloped in the neighborhood's social elite after agreeing to take on a personal injury case for one of the residents. As Nora tries to convince her husband to buy, her despondence toward their one sided marriage grows. Things at Dynasty Ranch are pretty clearly bizarre, but Nora seemingly doesn't notice? That was one of the pieces that was too hard for me to buy. I also got tired of the "men and husbands are worthless, women and mothers are queens" tripe. I get that this was a central theme to the book, but it was so over the top that it almost read like satire. Although the ending was hinted at all along, it was just too much of a reach with many holes and lack of detail.

Wow!!! To say this book was a shocker would be an understatement. I think Baker really represents a woman's struggle with the work and life balance well. Some of the book was pretty predictable but there are enough twists and turns to keep me wanting to not put the book down! You might think you want to perfect husband and the perfect job but do you really?

This is a story about the fact that no one can have it all without help… so what’s a wife and mother to do?

I really enjoy the recent crop of twisty thrillers with subversive social commentary woven throughout. The author expertly built a sense of impending doom, in a way that made me doubt my own suspicions about the neighborhood. Perhaps there was nothing sinister occurring? Maybe this was just a contemporary and I wrongfully assumed there was a thriller element? The ability to lull a reader into a false sense of well-being is such a skill!

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️. 💫/5

Thank you Netgalley, Macmillan & Flatiron books for this ALRC!

This is a gripping domestic suspense/psychological thriller sure to please all the moms out there who are feeling unseen or unappreciated and hoping for just a little extra help from their partners. Chandler Baker does a great job exploring the many reasons why women struggle with wanting to HAVE it all but never being able to DO it all in this creative reverse Stepford wives situation. Nora is hired to look into the death of a widow's husband in a small Texas home association where the high-powered working women have figured out a way to get their husbands to be the supportive spouses we all long for. Newly pregnant with her second child, trying to climb the career ladder at her litigation firm and struggling with feeling overwhelmed by it all on the home front this community seems like paradise to Nora (right until it doesn't). There's also a mysterious incident alluded to throughout the novel that we slowly learn has become a source of deep guilt, shame and resentment in her marriage. Everything comes to a shocking revelation as Nora makes her way into the exclusive community and uncovers their dirty little secrets. Highly relatable and perfect for your summer reading pleasure with one of those perfect mic drop one liner endings. I enjoyed this one A LOT and was so excited to have received an advance listening copy from NetGalley and Macmillan audio.

I have to start off by saying I'm kind of disappointed the women end up being the villains. I mean I knew it was coming as this has a similar vibe to The Stepford Wives, but I really wanted it to veer away.

As a working mom/wife I so very much identify with the frustrations of the women in the novel. We all achingly want to have an equal partnership with our spouse, but it rarely happens. Everyone says remind them, make a list, it's your fault for allowing it to happen without admonishing the male counterpart for being the "lazy traveler".

So yeah I get that ending totally.

I supposed instead of ending with a delicious note of men wanting to step up and partner is just sad to realize in the book (and probably life) most men will not unless they're coerced in some horrific way. And I hate that that makes women the villain.

The narrator did a great job voicing an average white American woman trying to balance work and family without much help from either end.

Nora Spangler does it all, she’s a successful attorney and a mom and homemaker to boot. Why does it seem that she works 24/7 when her husband seems to have plenty of free time when he’s not at work? All that is about to change though, when the Spangler’s look at moving to a new suburb called Dynasty Ranch. The women there are all successful and so…happy. When Nora agrees to help one of the women there in a legal matter, she uncovers the reason the women are so relaxed. I LOVED this feminist take on the Stepford Wives. I want to live in Dynasty Ranch!

The Husbands:

“We hear over and over that we aren’t enough. Not thin enough, not pretty enough, not stylish enough and now we’ve added to it- not successful enough, not professional enough, not tough enough. So what’s the natural reaction to hearing ‘not enough’ over and over and over? Of course it’s to take more. To shovel ‘more’ onto ourselves so that no one can accuse us of not being enough”

Oh man, this is so relatable. As y’all know, my kids are very close in age (5,3,1). I work 40+ hours and was considered a massive workaholic before I gave birth. (and honestly, still have to pull the reigns that my family is more important that my job) I’ve worked from home for the past 7-8 years, so I do a lot in the home and still work my ass off. I do a lot. A lot. I get Nora’s frustration and her arguments. I’ve had the same exact ones! Where’s my clicky pen? Can I buy those in bulk? 😂

I enjoyed the different articles and chats or posts about moms trying their damndest and needing help. We are not invincible. But, we try to be. I just kept think “Yes! Finally” the entire time.

The Husbands has a very eerie feeling around it, and it’s good! I wish there could have been a bit more explanation in the reveal as to how, but I really liked the reveal. I also wish Andi had more of a role in the book. I felt like she could blown the entire story open and been in Penny’s position.

Overall, this is a juicy, relatable, great summer read. This is the book you’re turning the page while yelling at your daughter to give her brother his truck back without looking up. This is the book you bring to the pool and sip your White Claw and enjoy the heat from this book! Thank you so much FlatIron and Macmillan Audio for the gifted copy! If you are a fan of The Stepford Wives, or Two Truths & A Lie, The Husbands is for you. The Husbands is out June 29th! It’s a wickedly quick (I finished in under 24 hours) fun read.

2.5 stars rounded up

The authors view of feminism and my interpretation of it are two completely different things. This book is 80% a compilation of complains and frustration enunciated by women who are mainly wives and mothers acting as if they are the first one to be a wife or a mother.
The leading character Nora, is a lawyer. Therefore we can easily suspect that money is not an issue, Nevertheless we constantly hear Nora complying that she doesn't have time to clean the carpet or buy milk. In this day and age, why would she, especially being a mother of a toddler and being pregnant and working full time. Why not hire someone to clean the house? Why not getting your groceries delivered??
In addition we have Nora constantly complaining about her husband not helping her, but when she is being asked what exactly she wants him to do, she's speechless. Everyone knows that men work better with well defined tasks. So this book is full of complains and frustrations generated by pure stupidity.

The mystery of the burned person is very interesting, even though it occupies a very small part of this book, however my suspicion of what was happening behind closed doors was proven right and for that reason it was very disappointing. Not only because I saw it coming, but because the entire scenario is ridiculous.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

I enjoyed Chandler Baker’s Whisper Network, but The Husbands was even better! Stepford Wives meets Get Out - a chilling look at suburbia and the age old question of whether working women can really have and do it all, with or without the help of a supportive husband, that is. Twist ending was so fun; perfect summer book!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this ARC.