The Husbands
by Holly Gramazio
Pub Date: April 2, 2024
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
A MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK • An exuberant debut, The Husbands delights in asking: how do we navigate life, love, and choice in a world of never-ending options?
I absolutely love the premise and it would make for a great movie with a few tweaks. My main qualm was the length; there just wasn't enough substance to carry this story over 300+ pages. This would've absolutely banged as a novella. There's great humor and the 'lessons' would've popped more in a condensed story. However, I found myself getting tired of the revolving husbands without very little plot progression.
So for me it's a Meh. Not my favorite read.
3 stars

I ate up this smart and thought provoking book about a woman living in London who comes home one night to her husband Michael, except that she’s not married and she’s never seen him before in her life.

Then Michael goes up into the attic to change a lightbulb, and as he descends he is replaced with a new mystery husband!

The magic attack and the mystery husbands – I know, it sounds super gimmicky. But it’s not. It’s just fun. And thought provoking. And delightfully weird. (Perfect for fans of Kevin Wilson’s Nothing To See Here)

It’s more satire than rom com, a commentary of sorts on the nutty state of dating and marriage in the 21st century. I’ll be thinking of the wonderfully surprising ending for quite some time.

I loved this book and look forward to forcing many friends, both single and married, to read it.

2.5
Imagine a life of infinite husbands, but you only have one at a time and for an unknown period of time. If you don't care for the current husband, you simply ask him to retrieve something from the attic and a new husband emerges along with a new life, new hobbies, new decor etc. A very large magical element in this book!

This started off chaotic yet intriguing with the constant revolving door of husbands. There were times when Lauren liked and kept her husband and others when she quickly redirected them to the attic. Over the length of the book I found myself growing weary of the many many husbands, too many to keep track of. There were a couple that she held onto that we got to know and were privy to their relationship, but overall it felt like a complete hurricane of men. Too many guys and not enough story or details. I wished we'd been given only a few men that rotated through so we could get to know them better. I felt no connection to any of the characters. I presume I should've liked Lauren but by the end, I was just too removed because of the many removals of husbands.

Thank you to NetGalley and Doubleday for this complimentary eARC.

DNF at 36%. I thought the concept sounded so interesting and this was one of my most anticipated reads for 2024 but unfortunately the execution didn’t work for me. I found myself bored and disconnected. Thank you to the publisher for the free ebook and PRH audio for the free audiobook.

This debut novel got me from the very start. Lauren comes home from a night out to find her husband, Michael waiting for her. That would be fine, except she doesn't have a husband. At some point he goes into the attic, the light flickers, and a different man (also her husband) comes down. What she does with this attic of seemingly endless husbands is the rest of the book.

With each husband, Lauren's life (and home décor) changes, sometimes slightly, sometimes dramatically. To everyone else, the husband has always been there. Her life progresses otherwise normally. She has infinite chances to meet someone she'd like to be with, but how will she know if she's made a good decision or not when there's another husband waiting in the wings. And he might be better.

I was struck by Lauren's blasé attitude toward the attic and the men who emerge from it. If I came home to a stranger in my house, I'd be calling 911, not having a conversation. I also felt like the ending was disappointing. There were a lot of ways it could have gone, but the way it did wasn't for me.

All in all a thoroughly enjoyable book if you can put aside your disbelief. There were times I laughed out loud and others where I was really pulling for Lauren.

My thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Husbands was a clever concept with one woman, who's single, repeatedly gets new husbands every time they come down from the attic. I loved the idea but the middle fell flat for me. Way too many husbands, but I still stuck with it because I had to see how it would end. If you're dating or have been on the dating apps, you'll see some irony woven through. I like how her friends stayed the same, but we always saw them in different stages of their lives.

I have been looking forward to reading The Husbands by Holly Gramazio ever since reading the book description, and it did not disappoint. I was hooked from page one and finished in one day. The premise is such pure fun: a husband appears out of a woman's attic, but she's never been married. He goes back up to the attic, and a new husband comes down in his place. This book was so much fun, with so many laugh out loud moments, that the underlying tension of the story is easy almost to miss until it has built up to tragic proportions. The character development, dialogue, and story arc are all incredibly well done. The Husbands was, quite simply, a joyous and unforgettable read. I laughed, I cried, and I prayed that this is not the last we hear from Holly Gramazio!

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this e-galley.

I enjoyed this original story idea. It got off to a great start and wrapped up in a reasonably satisfactory way. The middle, however, seemed to drag on for too long. I really thought that more was going to happen but it never really did. The main characters growth only happened at the very end after several bizarre/extreme situations. It didn't feel very plausible.
I will recommend this book to a few others as a fun read but will not likely purchase it.

3.75 stars

What an original concept! Main character Lauren comes home one night, slightly drunk after a hen party, only to find her husband there -- but she isn't married. And yet her friends and family think she is, and he and she clearly have a history including texts and wedding photos. It's all connected with her attic. She accidentally finds out that if he climbs up the attic ladder, FLASH POW, he is gone and a new husband appears. Yes, it's quirky but intriguing.

The middle is a bit lengthy as she goes through literally hundreds of husbands. Some she sends right back, a couple reappear, and some she tries out for a week or two. Her self-analysis and coping mechanisms are pretty hilarious as she tries to navigate her new exceedingly strange reality. And then -- one of the husbands divorces her instead of being sent up the attic ladder. So, for a while, she is free -- but is that what she wants? Soon she gets interested in the concept of dating, and she finds out that is even worse than the revolving carousel of husbands.

This is a pretty unique plot. It seemed to go on a little longer than necessary but I still enjoyed the stretch of the imagination. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This novel is a bit bonkers. Imagine you are thirty-ish & single. After arriving home from your best friend's bachelorette party, you find a strange man in your apartment, and, actually, you are married to him (as evidenced by the photos on the wall). Don't like him? Don't worry!! Send him up to the attic, and a new husband will appear! What's a girl to do? Will Lauren find lasting love or is she stuck changing husbands as often as some people wash their hair? This novel was fun and light-hearted, and I think it will spark a good discussion.

What a wonderfully inventive premise surrounding this book.
It was so funny, great characters and the two different perspectives was very refreshing.
Highly recommended to all who need an escape from everyday life.

It is a fun read that is not taxing on one's mind, in a good way. Many times, I need a novel that isn't going to make me feel such strong emotions other than wanting a good time. A beach read, if you will. This fits into this troupe.

Lauren, the protagonist, goes home after a "hen party" to her house where she is greeted by "her husband." The only hitch is, she doesn't have a husband. She is naturally beyond unsure and feeling very unstable, she reaches out to Nat, her brother, and her friends to ask about her spouse. The fun begins every time the husband goes into the attic, like Dr. Who's time machine, another husband pops up. One is abusive, and I really did not like that one. Lauren tries to get her bearings and even manages to capture the blinking lights and see the furniture and colors of the wall change. After a while, I felt the turnaround wheels of husbands grew a bit too repetitive and therefore ran a bit too long.

This entertaining read provides a lighthearted and enjoyable escape. Sometimes, I crave a novel that doesn't evoke intense emotions, just a fun and relaxing experience. This book fits that bill perfectly.

The story follows Lauren, the protagonist, as she returns home from a "hen party" to her house, where she is greeted by her supposed "husband." However, there's a catch: Lauren doesn't have a husband. Feeling disoriented and uncertain, she seeks help from Nat, and her friends to unravel the mystery.

The intriguing twist comes when Lauren's "husband" enters the attic like Dr. Who's time machine, and out pops a series of different husbands. One of them is abusive, which I found particularly disturbing. Lauren tries to make sense of her situation and even manages to capture the blinking lights and observe the changing furniture and wall colors.

While the concept of revolving husbands is captivating, I felt that the repetition became a bit excessive and prolonged the story unnecessarily.

Thank you to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for eARC in exchange for my honest review.

A terrific premise--I really want to see more by this author! Unfortunately, the story began losing momentum a little more than a third of the way through. The husbands were increasingly cardboard, with only superficial differences, and I began skimming. The payoff left me shrugging, but I still admire the unique premise.

Original story of a woman who comes home one night to find a man in her flat who claims he's her husband. She soon discovers that her attic is a portal that keeps churning out a new husband after each one enters the attic. As the story progresses and the husband turnover continues, out protagonist learns more about life, love, and realizing that there's no perfect someone for everyone.

First of all, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy of The Husbands. Because some of my students are adults, they are sometimes ready to start to transition away from YA to adult fiction. The Husbands had a premise that I thought might fit the bill for those students.

While I enjoyed the overall story very much, I think my students will find it repetitive and not quite fast-paced enough in the middle. This makes The Husbands a non-purchase for my school library; however, I do know several fellow staff members who would enjoy the book and will be recommending it to them.

There are a few quibbles I have with The Husbands:
1. I started to get lost in the middle with the sheer volume of husbands.
2. I started to get caught up in the "how" of it all instead of enjoying the story. I wish there had been a bit more resolution there.
3. I honestly don't think our protagonist grew as much as I would have liked.

Overall, it was light and fun, but I think it didn't quite live up to its potential. I enjoyed it, but I don't know that it'll hold an enduring place on bookcases.

I enjoyed this brain candy book that was both humorous and serious. I thought Lauren was a relatable main character. Would make a great summer/beach read. Reminded me of the Secret Life of Addie LaRue and The Midnight Library.

If getting a different husband was as easy as a simple household chore, would you do it? And keep doing it until a flawless man enters your life? Single Londoner Lauren comes home one evening to a man she's never met but is apparently her husband. When he goes into the attic and a different husband emerges she takes it pretty well. And just sends him back up to the attic when she tires of him. Time continues on but husbands keep changing. Laugh out loud funny, thoughtful and often ridiculous, this debut was a fun and thought provoking read. Things go a little off the rails toward the end, but if you'd gone through hundreds of husbands in a year, you'd probably go off the rails a bit too.

The Husbands is a cute story with a unique premise. It’s a quick read and would make a perfect beach/pool read! Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy.

I love it when I’m surprised in all the best ways by a book. I thought the premise of The Husbands sounded interesting—an attic produces a seemingly infinite numbers of husbands and new lives for a women—but I wasn’t sure since I rarely read fiction with such large dollops of magical realism. This novel is nothing but fun. A crazy, convoluted premise turns out to be the perfect escape route from the crazy, convoluted world we’re living in right now.

Lauren, the protagonist and victim of a magical attic’s antics, is in for the shock of her life when she comes home to her London flat after a “hen’s party.” Michael, who she doesn’t know, greets her and she soon realizes he thinks he’s her husband. He is her husband. The reader immediately steps into an unbelievable world that the author makes totally believable—or at least believable enough to allow you to suspend disbelief.

The voice is fabulous. The ever-changing husbands are fresh and original characters. Lauren’s progression through such a fantastical journey reads true. I haven’t read anything as original and fun in a long time. I chuckled more than once, actually considered what Lauren’s experience would feel like, and looked forward to reading it every night.

I eagerly anticipate more from the talented Holly Gramazio. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance review copy.

The Husbands defies genre. It's part romcom part scifi part character study. Lauren comes home to find a stranger in her house, but the stranger claims to be her husband. Lauren doesn't even remember dating the guy, let alone marrying him. Soon Lauren discovers her attic replaces any husband that enters it. This doorway into other dimensions allows Lauren to see what her life would be like if she stuck with that awful boyfriend or married that rich older man. She continues trading and checking in with her family, friends and job, to see how the world around her has changed. Eventually, she has to make a choice, doesn't she? Can she keep this up forever? Her desperate actions at the end kept me on the edge of my seat.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was nearly impossible to put down. I look forward to more works by Holly Gramazio, Thank you NetGalley, Doubleday Books, and Holly Gramazio for the arc.