Member Reviews
This is unlike any book I’ve read lately . Funny , thrilling and suspenseful. Lauren returns home to her flat one evening and finds her husband there . Problem is she is not married . While she is trying to figure out who this person is he goes to the attic to change the light bulb .But what comes down is ANOTHER HUSBAND . Funny part of this book is when she gets annoyed at the slightest thing back they go . This a very fun unique novel that makes you question what would I do . I loved this
This novel has such a unique plot: our main character Lauren is living in London and has just come home from a bachelorette party. Somehow, she has acquired some sort of alternate universe portal, because not only does she suddenly have a husband, as soon as he goes into the attic, a different husband comes out. And things in her life have changed, sometimes subtly, sometimes drastically. And this happens over and over.
My problem, and this is on me, is that I can be a prude sometimes and I felt Lauren’s actions were just… yucky…and I didn’t buy her reactions in general. I’m not the right audience for this book.
I read about half and the writing was very good and quite funny so if you are ok with some dubious choices of a main character, then it could be a really enjoyable read! Unfortunately, it was not for me.
This book took me forever to get through. The plot was slow and the main character was so unlikeable. Even to the end, I just wanted it to be over with so I could move on to something better. Honestly, I still struggle to figure out what the point of the book was. This was definitely not for me.
Thank you to the author and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC in return for my honest opinion.
I absolutely loved this book! Lauren comes home after a night out, to be greeted by her husband. The thing is - she's not married. Very weird. She soon finds out that her attic somehow turned magic, and will provide an endless stream of husbands. It's hilarious and thought provoking. I would have liked for Holly Gramazio to have provided a kind of explanation or theory on what caused the attic to suddenly turn into a husband making machine, especially when it becomes clear that her attic is not the only place where husbands and lives are swatted around - but it was still a highly enjoyable and entertaining read.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
Great debut! Not a rom com and not a literary tale- just a feel good story that I laughed out loud at while reading at times. Definitely will look out for more from this author!
When Lauren returns to her flat after a drunken night out, she is met by a man who claims to be her husband. She can't possibly be so drunk that she doesn't remember him, can she? In the morning, he's still there, still her husband. She tries to piece together their relationship by scrolling through text messages, photos and google. Her friends all seem to know him but she just can't remember him. He goes up to the attic to change a lightbulb and comes down a different man - another man who is another husband and with that comes a new life. Same friends, same flat (but with different decor). Soon Lauren discovers that she can change her husbands and life just by sending the men up to the attic. Will she just keep bouncing from husband to husband indefinitely or will she ever find THE ONE?
With a plot that centers around a revolving door of husbands, you'd think that this would get repetitive and boring after the first few husbands. Instead, Holly Gramazio manages to hook you and reel you in. I loved this book. It was unpredictable in the best ways and you really are invested in Lauren and her husbands. Can Lauren just keep switching husbands and lives when she gets bored or if she finds a flaw in them? Is the supply endless or will the attic just suddenly stop procuring husbands and she will be stuck?
What a fun book with a great ending!
I find that books with an unusually interesting premise often disappoint in the execution; this was a delightful exception! Could not put it down, I wanted so badly to find out what would happen next. There were surprises, poignant moments, and several snorts and chuckles along the way.
I liked the way the author used plants as a way to ground the main character to her world(s). The ending was... *chef's kiss*
Ultimately, a thought-provoking, absolute gem of a book. Highly recommend for book clubs.
A funny, yet thought provoking book. How can one person seemingly choose such different partners? This book was a fun read. Could this actually happen? Wouldn't you like to know!
3.5 A fun, slightly zany book about a single women who suddenly has a husband walk down from her attic. She learns that the attic can always produce new husbands when one goes up. Some are nice, some so-so and some a little creepy. I found the authors insights on relationships and commitment interesting. And how in the end you could end up with lots of different people; and choosing to see the good in someone helps the relationship. The premise is obviously bananas but she balances it well with real life.
This book wasn’t written for me. I didn’t resonate with any of the characters but that doesn’t mean this is a “bad” book by any means. It flowed well, the dialogue was great between characters.
My first novel from Holly Gramazio but not my last this was fresh, quirky and a fun read. It was a nice break from my regular genre (psychological thrillers). Even though it’s a light hearted story it had some truly thought provoking ideas. And I did find myself laughing out loud.
Thank you NetGalley, Holly Gramazio and Doubleday Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.
I'm such a sucker for high concept novels, especially with a spark this good. I spent half the book curious to see how it could end. The ending felt realistic for the story and though perhaps not super satisfying, it wasn't unsatisfying. Could it have gone a tad deeper? Maybe. Lots of fun and very juicy and I adored seeing Lauren discover all of her different selves
I adore magical realism and this did not disappoint. This was a really fun debut. A great message too, about paths taken and untaken. Looking forward to reading more of Gramazio's work!
fun fiction, but i thought way too many husbands and not enough time spent on each, or on the FMC's character. thanks for the ARC! would recommend.
One day, an unfamiliar man descends from Lauren’s attic stairs. It turns out he’s her husband–even though she wasn’t married moments before. Soon Lauren discovers that her attic is a mysterious source of husbands: each time a husband goes up into her attic, a new one comes down–along with an alternate version of her own life, shaped by her choice of husband. And so begins a dizzying journey where she tries out husband after husband, life after life–wondering all the while what is causing this, and more importantly, how to know when a husband is the right one to keep.
I was drawn to the premise, and this book delivers. It’s a page-turner, with filled with humor, clever storylines, and the right amount of seriousness and emotional insight for this type of book. I couldn’t put it down–I started it and neglected everything else to finish it in one of those delightful, book-reading binges. In vibe (though not in topic), it has similarities to The Measure or The Many Lives of Addie LaRue–raising questions about how we make choices or commit to a life, while taking us on a great fictional ride. It didn’t make me cry like Matt Haig’s The Midnight Library, but its plot is fresh and original, with developments that ratchet up my interest and fascinating twists that keep me reading furiously to find out what happens next. It's better than many other "alternate husband" novels and holds its own among books about alternate lives. Definitely worth a read!!
A smart and inventive debut. While I was hooked on the suspense of the next husband, I also appreciated the critical look at relationships and modern dating in a world of seemingly infinite choices. The protagonist is smart and real. I like the complexity and diversity of her world of friends and acquaintances. Gramazio effectively addresses singleness and childlessness as choices without being pedantic-- there is simply, in this world, no default for how people might live their lives.
I had hope that this one would be like The Midnight Library; it wasn't. Initially intrigued by the concept of a character living parallel lives, I was curious about Lauren's story. At 50%, though, I wondered just how many husbands Lauren was going to have (she was around 150 at this point). With everyone around her "resetting" with each life, Lauren sees the impact of her choices, but what a lonely way to live. Desperate to find out how the attic works (Does she have a choice? Does she ever find love? Is she in a coma? Does she make it back to her original life? Has anyone else experienced the attic?) and uncover what - if anything - Lauren actually learns about herself, I read on. Unfortunately, I'm not sure I understand the concept any more than I did from the beginning. I was hoping to like Lauren and to root for her more than I did. In some lives I felt bad for her, and in others I wanted to know more about her choices. The ending wrapped things up in a semi-satisfying way, but I still feel like I wanted something more (other than husbands).
The Husbands is a clever, lighthearted read that you can try to delve deeper into the meaning of loneliness and relationships or enjoy the romp. Lauren, a little tipsy, single woman returns home from a party to find her “husband “ waiting for her. She has no idea who he is or when she would have married. Her home looks a little different and her phone shows that he is in fact her husband! When he goes into the attic, a new husband appears, the house looks different and her phone has new details! Her friend know each husband as the only one. Lauren realizes that she can trade each one in for a different version! And so it continues.
Lauren sees different versions of her life and can decide which husband should stick around or be banished to the attic. She rues the one that got away; however, there are never meaningful connections. It’s a fun escapist book with a new plot. Enjoy it for that.
Thank you NetGalley and Doubleday for sharing this ARC for my unbiased opinion.
I loved this book! A magical attic? Time travel or not? Decisions to make about which husband and life to keep or pass on. This book was an adventure with some touch and go moments. Loved the ending and the friendships that she makes.
3 too many husbands to count
I loved the premise of this one, trying out husbands until you find the right one. How do you know when it’s the right one? When do you stop hoping for someone better?
The book opens with Lauren returning home after a fun night out. Her husband Michael is there when she gets back, but at the start of the night, she isn’t married! Where did the ring on her finger come from? Why doesn’t she remember him or their wedding?
There’s a strange noise in the attic, and when Michael goes to investigate, another man comes down! So begins the saga for Lauren. Some of the men she keeps for weeks and others for just five minutes. Each man must have some redeeming qualities, but how do you know which one to keep for good? One man seems to be a great match, but it ultimately doesn’t work out. Along the way, Lauren keeps up her friendships and jobs, each man bringing a whole new world.
At the midway point, there’s an interesting development that eventually fizzles out, too.
This was a fascinating premise, but I wasn’t thrilled with how it ended. I wish there would have been fewer husbands as I didn’t develop any rooting power for any of them. I was hoping for the happy ever after ending with this one.