4 Stars – Binge-worthy and engaging, but…

Thank you to NetGalley and Spring Street Books for providing me with an ARC of “Husbands: Love and Lies in La-La Land” by Mo Fanning in exchange for an honest review.

I had a really hard time rating this one.

You’d think a book you binge through the night into the early morning hours would be an easy 5 stars, right? And I certainly did. Binge it, that is. It was past 2am and my eyes were stinging from staring at the screen too long when I finally reached the last words of Husbands and could go to sleep without my mind whirring in anticipation of whether Kyle was careening towards a train wreck of an ending or if the ridiculous man would find his way out of all the trouble he’d gotten himself into.

That alone should be testament to what Fanning has achieved here.

That being said, I still had some issues with it. The biggest being that if I were browsing the shelves at a bookstore and this one caught my eye, I’d have put it back down after reading the prologue and missed out on a wonderfully entertaining narrative.

The writing in the prologue is brusque and choppy. It does a fair job at emulating the kind of lack of focus that can come with inebriation, but the execution is off somehow; which is to say that as a point of first contact with the book, I had no idea if this was just the way Fanning writes.

Those first few pages are critical for me in choosing what to invest my time in. More often than not I can get a feel for whether something will work for me in the first couple paragraphs. In this respect, "Husbands" fails spectacularly.

Even into the first chapter I was on the fence about continuing. It does start strong, don’t get me wrong. The opening lines are punchy, full of personality, and just do a wonderful job at establishing the narrative voice. The character work here is certainly one of the book’s best selling points. Even the supporting characters feel distinct.

But there was something about the pacing and the section breaks that just didn’t work for me in the first chapter. Too fast maybe? It has that quality of writing where you just know there are things you have to write to get to the stuff you actually want to write.

It wasn’t until chapter 2 that I really felt sold on the story and settled in for the ride. And don’t ask me why, but this is the moment that really caught me:

“You’re going to abandon our friendship like this? The next time you see me, I might be on stage at an awards show, thanking Jesus and everyone who believed in me. Thanking you.”
She stares straight ahead, pretending not to hear.
“What if I agree to buy coffee and doughnuts?”
Milly groans and climbs out of the cab while I mutter thanks to the God of sugar-coated, deep-fried dough.

It’s just the perfect combination of petulance and humor. I could practically see the eye-roll and sigh. And it had the feeling of being the kind of thing that’s happened between these two numerous times over the course of their friendship, serving to flesh out their characters and history beyond what the scope of the text would otherwise have allowed. It’s a great example of writing that effectively shows more than it tells.

From there I was pretty much flipping pages (or scrolling in this case). The narrative really finds its stride and I was hooked right until the end.

There are a lot of other things I could say about "Husbands," nitpicky things about the speed and way that the relationship develops, or the kinds of drama unfolding with how utterly idiotic Kyle seems as he puts his trust in complete strangers. Situational bonding is always hit or miss with me, and based on Kyle’s characterisation it makes perfect sense for him to bend under pressure or to really want to believe that not everyone is going to betray him. I think those sorts of things could easily work for other readers as they, at times, didn’t for me.

Still, Fanning achieves a lot with "Husbands," managing to deal with the sensitive issue of exploitation of minors in the film industry with a deft hand. <spoiler> Noah’s feelings are complicated and messy and both make a whole lot of sense and don’t at the same time. I truly appreciate that he isn’t just reduced to the role of “victim” and that the issue is given the gravity it deserves. </spoiler>

Overall, I enjoyed Husbands and would recommend it to anyone looking for an engaging read with riveting characters and a wild ride of ups and downs and deception galore!

This was a good book. I really love the world building and the characters. The pacing was really good and it kept the story moving and I was engaged the entire time as a reader

Punchy writing and appealing characters. Heart-mangling with LOL moments. I thoroughly enjoyed this dark, romantic road trip. A head-snapping dive into a twisted and sexy tale of ambition, revenge and murder set against a sun-bleached tear-stained postcard sent postage-due from the heart of Hollywood Babylon

I read this book in one sitting because the main character was so messy(in the best way) I could not tear my attention away from the constant horrible decisions Kyle made. The pacing of this novel if very quick but at times I was a little confused as to how we got to a certain point. Also, this book does deal with heavy subject matters such as crimes against children. With the current headlines in the entertainment industry it was very interesting to read how the author tackled the subject. It didn't feel cheap or added for shock value, I thought it was done as tastefully as it could be.

This book was good, but to be honest I was expected a little more. From the description I was expecting something more dark and vicious. But it’s definitely a good book, the writing is AMAZING and I really enjoyed it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

Kyle Macdonald is a 28 year old teacher in London, lives with his parents, and just got out of a once promising relationship. Single and wanting to change his career path, he's stuck, until he randomly gets a call from someone in Hollywood claiming Kyle is needed in LA, as he is told he is married to currently comatose Aaron Biedermeier, a top-dog director. Instead of ignoring it, Kyle hops on a plane to LA, hoping this phone call will land him an acting gig in Hollywood that will transform his life and make him famous. Upon arrival, Kyle is thrown into disarray, not knowing who he can trust or why he was actually needed in LA.

After a few hours in LA, Kyle begins uncovering abuse and underage sexual allegations pertaining to his "husband," Aaron Biedermeier. Invested, Kyle dives deeper, hoping to find the truth of what is actually happening in Hollywood. What can Kyle do to stop this from happening to other young boys? Is he in too deep? Who can he really trust?

Let's just say I binged the heck out of this book. I started it, blinked, and was already halfway through. The writing really drags you in (in the best way!), and you want to read it all in one sitting to find out what happens to Kyle and if he's able to get out of the mess he accidentally got himself into.

However, there were some problems in the beginning of the book that I think could be dealbreakers for some. Mostly, the prologue and the first chapter are all over the place. Don't get me started, the book starts off strong, but boy is it confusing. It took me a few pages to understand what I was even reading. I also had no idea if the main character was a boy or a girl, which, okay, not always important, but was important here. And then Kyle gets to Hollywood, and I'm confused again. There are so many names thrown at you that you don't know who is what and what is happening. I had to piece some of it together myself, and then once I finally got it all in order, it was smooth sailing from there. Then I was truly invested and couldn't wait to read on to uncover what happens.

I also thoroughly enjoyed that this book was based on a topic that is not. talked. about. enough. I understand it's a very difficult and dense topic to just casually write a book about, but the sexual abuse of young Hollywood stars is unfortunately not uncommon, and awareness on the topic is important. Fanning clearly thought about this book from multiple angles and layers, and it shows within the pages, especially with Noah Winters, who is a victim that doesn't trust his emotions. He was more than just a side character, as he had his own voice and depth, which was powerful.

People who enjoyed The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave will love this book. Binge worthy and well-written! 4 stars!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to NetGalley, the publishing house, and Mo Fanning for providing me with an ARC copy of "Husbands Love and Lies in La-La Land." This was an incredibly riveting read that had me hooked from start to finish.

Fanning's writing is nothing short of engaging, drawing me into the glamorous yet dark world of Hollywood with each turn of the page. Despite the occasional pacing issues, particularly at the start, the overall narrative remained powerful and compelling, keeping me eagerly turning pages whenever I could steal a moment away from work.

One of the standout elements of the book for me was the characters, particularly Noah. Fanning has crafted these characters with such intricacy and depth that they feel like real people, each with their own flaws, desires, and complexities. I felt like I was watching a film play out as I read through the dialogue. Noah, in particular, exceeded my expectations, evolving into a multifaceted character who added layers of depth to the story.

What sets "Husbands" apart is its unique take on the trials and tribulations and dark experiences of Hollywood and the film industry. Fanning skillfully weaves together elements of mystery, romance, and drama, creating a narrative that is as entertaining as it is thought-provoking.

I am eagerly anticipating the release of the physical copy so that I can jump into this captivating story again. "Husbands" is a triumph of storytelling, and I have no doubt that it will captivate readers with its blend of glamour, intrigue, suspense, and heart.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of Husbands by Mo Fanning.

Husbands by Mo Fanning takes readers on a riveting journey through the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, where every pavement star hides a tale, not all of them shining.

Protagonist Kyle Macdonald finds himself at a crossroads in life, working as a supply teacher in Birmingham and sleeping beneath a Madonna poster in his childhood bedroom. His fortunes take an unexpected turn when he receives a call claiming he drunkenly married top Hollywood director Aaron Biedermeier in Vegas six years prior. Seeing this as a ticket to fame and the life he's always dreamed of, Kyle heads to Los Angeles.

However, the allure of La-La Land begins to fade as Kyle uncovers a dark and corrupt underbelly lurking beneath its glamorous facade. Delving into his supposed husband's past, Kyle discovers disturbing allegations of abuse and underage sex parties. With the help of Biedermeier's fiancé, actor Noah Winters, Kyle embarks on a cross-country quest to uncover the truth, all while finding unexpected love along the way.

Fanning's narrative skillfully navigates themes of ambition, love, and the pursuit of truth against the backdrop of the entertainment industry. Husbands offers readers a gripping tale filled with suspense, romance, and the harsh realities hidden behind Hollywood's glittering exterior.