Absolutely hilarious. I will be posting a full review on my blog and here by the end of next week 4/12

I love a book that goes out of the box, and this book definitely fits that description. This is a fun, fast-paced read that will keep you interested the entire time. I wouldn’t say this is a book that will change or life or absolutely blow you away, but it is definitely an entertaining read. The concept is original, fun, and funny, but I couldn’t really connect much with the characters or the book as a whole. I’d recommend for a light, fun read as a palette cleanser!

Thank you Doubleday and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I had to DNF this one around the 50% mark. It was too damn repetitive and felt like we were going in circles. I wanted to hang out to see if she actually held on to a husband but I just couldn’t do it anymore. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was so much FUN! If you want a read that you can't put down, grab this one. You will be hooked as Lauren realizes she is married, but her husband "changes" if he is sent up to get something from her attic. Grumpy husband? No problem, up to the office. Boring husband? No worries, a new one can easily be brought down. She ends up starting to like a few-once they are gone, and starts to play with the concept to see if you she can get them back. Clever and fresh and fun!

First, the idea of this book is wholly original. It was a book with incredible promise, but I don't think it quite lived up to it. I really enjoyed the main character and I enjoyed the list-iness of getting to know each of the various husbands (at least in broad strokes). But I found the protagonist's action occasionally bewildering. (Seriously, you're going to go out to a country location with a husband who vaguely creeps you out, even knowing there's going to have to be a whole contrived plan to make him go away?) Kind of a mixed bag, but I rated it highly because I think it's worth the experience of reading, even if the reader doesn't love every part.

I've been slowly venturing into magical realism books more and more for the past year. When I saw the description of "The Husbands" by Holly Gramazio on NetGalley I knew I had to read it. Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC!

This books is about exactly what is sounds like a bunch of husbands, over 200 if you're wondering! Our main character Lauren comes home from her friends hen-do to find a strange man climbing down from her attic. This man seems to think he is her husband and after some research it turns out he is. In fact she can't remember any of their history, but her friends and family seem to know it all. When she figures out climbing into the attic triggers a new husband, that's when the adventure begins.

I had a lot of hope for this book, but sadly this was a miss for me. There was simply too many husbands! There was no character development. I wish the ending happened early and we could have spent some time in that. The biggest development doesn't happen till 50% into the book, but it had be hooked and then all of a sudden it was back to a never-ending list of husbands who didn't matter. It was a fun read, but just not executed well.

This was a cute story. I liked the author's style, and it was funny. Thanks to Netgalley for the chance to read the ARC.
I would recommend.

"The Husbands" is a refreshingly inventive debut that blends elements of mystery, romance, and existential contemplation. Through Lauren's bewildering journey of discovering multiple husbands and questioning the nature of choice and identity, the novel poses thought-provoking questions about the complexities of modern life. The premise of an attic generating an infinite supply of spouses provides a whimsical backdrop for exploring themes of self-discovery and the pursuit of happiness.

The author crafts a compelling narrative that keeps readers engaged from start to finish. Lauren's quest to unravel the mystery of her ever-changing reality is both humorous and poignant, offering readers a captivating exploration of the human condition. With its clever premise, witty prose, and relatable protagonist, "The Husbands" is a delightful read that invites readers to ponder the nature of love, destiny, and the pursuit of fulfillment in a world of endless possibilities.

Well, this book certainly is original. I was drawn in by the concept of husbands appearing out of an attic. Each time Lauren sends a husband up to the attic, he disappears, and a new one appears. She goes through more than a hundred husbands this way. She learns what she likes in husbands. She gets to test out marriage. It's sort of Sliding Doors, but with many many possible outcomes. In one lifetime, her sister doesn't have children. In another, Lauren or her spouse are cheating on each other. In one, Lauren spends a week with a guy she really likes and can see a future with, but he goes into the attic before she can stop him.

My main issue with the book is that once you understand the premise, it just goes on an on. The husbands grow monotonous for the reader as they do for Lauren, and she starts to become cruel. She will do anything to get rid of certain husbands. She drugs one of them, and is pretty awful. And in the end, her solution is pretty predictable. I think this book had a chance to do something really unique by examining the institution of marriage, but it fell a bit short with a character who became more and more unlikable.

Thank you NetGalley for the digital ARC of this book.

"The Husbands" is a delightfully fun novel that follows Lauren as she returns home to her London flat one night and is greeted at the door by her husband, Michael. There's just one problem—she isn't married, and she's never seen this man before. But according to her friends and the pictures on her phone, they have been together for years. When Michael goes to the attic to change a lightbulb, he suddenly disappears and a new man emerges in his place, and a slightly altered life forms around Lauren. When the new husband goes to the attic, he also disappears and another husband descends the attic ladder—again and again and again.. As Lauren realizes that her attic is creating an infinite supply of husbands, she questions how to know she has taken the right path and when to stop trying to do better.

I am a sucker for magical realism, and I absolutely adored this debut novel from Holly Gramazio. The premise is so unique, and it was such an entertaining and fresh story. Lauren was a very funny and clever protagonist, who you just can't help but love and root for. While the book is mostly lighthearted fun, it does take on the big questions and really make you think. In a world of swiping left and right, when do you know you've made the right choice and stop trying to look for a better match? Highly recommend this humorous and original love story!

Thank you to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

2/5 - This was fine - a quirky, chaotic and an interesting premise. Lauren comes back from a hen do and discovers a man in her apartment - apparently her husband. She also discovers that anytime he goes into the attic, he is replaced with an entirely new and different husband. Each time her world is a bit different and she is the only one who remembers the past. That's pretty much the story - her navigating her magical attic and ALL of the husbands.

The FMC, Lauren, was VERY funny and clever - her inner banter and commentary was my favorite part of the book. That being said I don't feel like I really got to know her or any of the other ever-changing side characters well. The story itself was repetitive, lacked the depth I hoped for and the ending was very abrupt. That being said, I'm learning I am mostly not a fan of time travel/time loops/alternate worlds themes - I find them to be a bit anxiety producing.

Thank you to @netgalley, Doubleday and Holly Gramazio for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. Out this week!

A thought provoking premise, but the story becomes tiresome after a while and ends with not so much of a cliffhanger as a flat “what?” I had a very hard time getting into this book, then found the middle readable, but buy the end I was just waiting for it to be over.

Very different -what a concept!
With a nod toward "trying on" relationships via things like dating apps - the divorce rate may be helped if more people had an attic!

Very funny - quick read.

Happy pub day to The Husbands by @Holly_Gramazio! I’m adding my voice to all those who adored this book.

When Lauren returns home to her flat in London, she’s greeted at the door by her husband Michael. The only problem? She doesn’t have a husband. But there are wedding pictures and the apartment is slightly different. When he goes into the attic he’s replaced by another husband on the way down. And this cycle continues. One husband goes into the attic, another one comes out and with him a whole new life that he and Lauren have lived together.

This book was extremely funny, but I also felt a certain melancholy while reading it. I had trouble putting it down because I couldn’t even imagine where the story was going, and I was so worried that something terrible might happen to Lauren who I really grew to love over the course of the book. I think The Husbands covers a lot of themes. Definitely one about commitment, but it also plays with the idea of how many people you could enjoy enough to build a life with. And the need for instant gratification and feeling like things are disposable, both of which seem to be getting more prevalent in our culture.

The resolution of the book was not one I saw coming and it was both sad and beautiful and I think the longer it sits with me the more perfect it will seem.

I loved the audio! Miranda Raison does a phenomenal job narrating and getting us into Lauren’s head, and she does a great job with the other accents in the book. I’m grateful that I had the chance to listen to an ALC and would wholeheartedly recommend the audiobook.
Definitely grab this book if it sounds even a little bit interesting. It was sort of a mash up of Groundhog Day and The Midnight Library, while also remaining an entirely unique concept.

I really enjoyed this one. This is not a romance. Rather, it seems to be more of a critique of modern dating apps and poses the question, when all it takes is a swipe left, and endless options are at our fingertips, are we as motivated to look for the good qualities in partners? When it’s so easy to switch it up, are we as committed to staying? This was laugh out loud funny, a little sad, and very insightful. My only critique would be that there were a lot of husbands to keep up which may have been intentional to convey the weariness and exasperation of the main character in her quest. Overall, I would recommend!

For fans of: the movie Groundhog Day, The Bachelor,
cultural criticism, books about alternate realities

Thank you so much to @netgalley and @doubledaybooks for the ARC!

If The Husbands by @holly_gramazio is not on your list, add it!! This is the story of a woman, Lauren, who keeps having a different husband emerge from the attic in her flat. Like she gets to test out husbands before deciding which one works. Some last 3 minutes before she sends them back into the attic, and some last months. I LOVED THIS BOOK! This book was absolutely delightful. I laughed, I cried, I wanted to hug my kindle. The quirks about the husbands were hilarious, Lauren was such a likable and relatable protagonist and I loved the way the revolving husbands all worked seamlessly and little facts and details about the rest of Lauren’s life and her friends and family were all slightly affected by each husband. The entire concept was so unique and so flawlessly and well executed. What an absolute pleasure to read.

This was so fun and whimsical. I loved how the magical realism drew me in. The different husbands were easy to keep track of and I laughed several times. This premise was so unique and Gramiazo sold me! I can’t wait for her next book!

After reading the synopsis of this book, I couldn’t wait to read it. What an interesting concept. This story gave me Twilight Zone vibes right from the start. Maybe Twilight Zone meets Groundhog Day meets the Butterfly Effect. Except funnier. Talk about the ultimate “try before you buy.”
I think Lauren’s accidental friendship with Bohai is hilariously right for the story. What a crazy thing to have in common. Their philosophical & practical discussions are thought provoking & entertaining. I liked trying to figure out why, how, & who would be the end game. After the last spectacularly bad attic stairs event, I suspected an epiphany was coming, but still didn’t have a clue how things would tie up. Somehow it does. Perfectly.
I never would’ve guessed this is the author’s first book. I’ll definitely look for more of her work in the future. Thanks to the publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy via NetGalley.

4.5 stars. Loved this! Lauren returns home after her friend's bachelorette party to find a husband. The problem is, Lauren has never been married. But according to her friends, the pictures on her phone and her much-improved home decor, Lauren is ,in fact, married to Michael. But after Michael goes upstairs to the attic to change a lightbulb, a different husband emerges and a different life for Lauren. Time moves forward but the husbands keep getting exchanged. Realizing that she can just reset her life if she doesn't like the newest husband, Lauren confronts the question of when do you stop trying to do better and start actually living your life?

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday for this e-arc.*

Thank you DoubleDay and PRH audio for the free review copies of The Husbands, this was one of my most anticipated reads for the year and it did not disappoint. Gramazio's story is original, creative, and thought provoking in great ways. This would be such a great book for a buddy read or book chat! This will be a top read for me for the year (and the audiobook was a great way to bring the story to life), it's rare to find a book that is just different enough without being too far off what I like to read, a balance of something expansive on themes I love and right in the sweet spot of just loving a good book.

What works: a great plot for readers like me who love themes on time/life choices and pathways and don't mind some big questions/themes; strong writing and engaging plot development (I just love literary fiction when words and phrasing stand out as much as a good plot); a thoughtful resolution to the book, one that really worked for me and how the story was told.