This is a debut novel with a very interesting premise. The story sucks you in at the beginning because, the main character Lauren goes into her house and is greeted by her husband. The catch is that Lauren isn’t married but her home has changed a bit, there is evidence that they’ve been married for a while. When she sends this husband to the attic to change a lightbulb, another husband comes down. This concept was really intriguing.
Here’s where it didn’t work for me… We never really get to know Lauren and understand why this might be happening to her. Plus there are sooooo many husbands - hundreds of husbands. Sometimes, she sends the husbands back to the attic because she doesn’t like what they are wearing, other times she spends a few days with them. I found it odd, that it never really got to the reasons and there were a lot of holes for me. Are we moving in time or is this groundhog day. Eventually, it seemed that she was moving in time but with each husband there were so many changes, that she wasn’t really living her life and that was odd to me. Then one husband talks about how he has been a husband for many different women and I thought maybe we were getting somewhere, but Lauren doesn’t seem to think to ask if all the husbands are experiencing that or not. I felt like there were so many questions and none of them were answered in a satisfying way or at all.

The concept itself was brilliant and it had a lot of potention, but…. It kind of fell flat. I am hopeful for another book by this author and hopefully a more solid plot.

*3.5 stars*

A revolving door of men…

Now this may be a fantasy but this fiction novel puts that to the test. Is more really the answer? If you keep trying will you get it right? Lauren was going to find out… But not without a lot of nail-biting and inner reflection.

Is Lauren married? Who are all these men seemingly streaming from her attic? She’s bewildered and stuck on a slightly different version of repeat as each one emerges… I admit I was confused as well. Did Lauren’s psyche simply conjure them up? Yet she seemed to be the only one ‘not in the know’ about her (current) ‘husband’. Was this all a rabbit’s dream?

The confusion finally led to some exhaustion as the new husbands did not end – they just kept coming. I mean, how big was that attic? Questions remained and just kept piling up. It seemed there was no path to a resolution. I dreaded the thought of a “she was in a coma” way of tying it all up in the end…

A fantastical story, I was satisfied with the ending even if I felt the entire book did not deliver on the unique, fresh plot…

An infinite supply of husbands means an infinite supply of lives and new characters. How fascinating to encounter so many different characters in one book, without them becoming utterly overwhelming. The idea that Lauren stays where she is, and a relatively stable character, while life around her changed with each trip to the attic was so interesting. Having to search her phone and apartment for clues to how she met this particular husband was sometimes frustrating but mostly humorous.
The fast-pace and constant change had my head spinning, but in a good way. It was interesting to see what trouble both Lauren and Bohai could get into in search of the perfect mate.
I’m not sure I truly liked Lauren. While it sounds incredible to be able to swap out your husband every time you have a fight, I felt that Lauren became very judgmental and intolerant throughout the book. With her being the solitary consistent character, I wish I had liked her better.

I absolutely flew through this book. I find that magical realism can be very hit or miss for me, but The Husbands was so compelling. It managed to be both funny and tender, and I have kept thinking about it long after I finished. I can't wait to read Holly Gramazio's next book.

This was a very cool concept.

I enjoyed reading this novel, it was well written and the storyline was engaging. I think i thought this was going to be a more serious book, but it was funny and kind of slap stick comedy type of way. Also how many husbands came down from the attic! My goodness.

I enjoyed this novel for what it was, but I wouldn't have picked this for myself.

I was really excited to receive this ARC, the concept is so unique and the delivery was unexpected!
Lauren is single and surrounded by friends in happy relationships. She returns from a bachelorette party to find a strange man in her apartment. Who claims to be her husband. Disoriented and confused, Lauren realizes her apartment has changed slightly, along with her appearance, and … are those wedding photos on her phone?! But how could she forget this man exists. He goes to the attic and all of a sudden, a different set of legs descends. And guess what? This man is also her husband.
Every time a husband enters the attic, Lauren's life alters slightly and a different husband emerges. Sometimes better, sometimes worse. It's like the ultimate dating app.
The eternal struggle begins - does Lauren accept what the universe is handing her or is she able to fight the path? Will she ever find the perfect husband?

This book was fun, lighthearted and hilarious. I've seen a few reviews saying it could have been a bit shorter but hey, as long as you're having fun, why stop? If you need a break from the monotony of cookie cutter books, I highly recommend picking this one up.

Thank you so much Holly Gramazio, NetGalley and Penguin Random House for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Lauren’s attic is basically the grandma from HalloweenTown’s purse, but instead of accessories it just shoots out husbands.A very refreshing, comedic adventure into magical realism for the non-fantasy reader, and I was so rooting for Carter. It tells an interesting story about modern dating and how quickly we fly through romantic partners in the age of online relationships. However, the falling action made me kind of angry but the ending redeemed itself. Would recommend if you feel like being really confused in a pleasant, suburban London sort of way.

The Husbands, and there are many, more than Lauren can count or keep track of, or can she? The premise of this debut novel is that… the attic is magic. Unhappy with one guy? Send him up the attic for a new one. Unruly nose hairs? Up he goes, and down comes another. Angry drunk, boring, polyamorous, lazy, or whatever suits her mood - simply send his ass up to the attic, and voila Lauren has herself a new husband.

This book has quite a fun concept, until it goes on repeat. I started to wonder what else might happen to carry this plot through to the finish line. Lauren does get into quite the pickle, eventually meets her match and the book has a solid ending, I will give it that. Closure is important. There was not enough character development, specifically for our main gal - who has the time to get into the specifics of all those guys? If you enjoy magical realism, a bit of silliness and a light read, I would suggest to give this one a try.

Thanks to Penguin Random House Canada for providing me with an e-ARC of this via Netgalley.

The Husbands by Holly Gramazio. Thanks to NetGalley @netgalley for letting me read an ARC of this one.
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This is such a fun novel about the illusion of having infinite options. The protagonist, Lauren, returns home after an evening out to find her husband at home, and is understandably perplexed because she's never been married. She realizes quickly her attic is creating husbands - and every time her husband goes up into the attic, a new husband comes down to replace him. Each time a new husband appears, her life changes accordingly - her home decor, her hairstyle, her friends, and her job are all slightly different. Each husband is part of a different alternate universe, and she can swap out for a new one by sending her husband up to the attic to fetch something or investigate a strange noise. But with all of these options, how does a person know if they've made the right choice? What if the next version of her life is better?
If you are a fan of Kevin Wilson or Gabrielle Zevin or looking for a fun summer novel pick up this one. Also hop over to Holly Gramazio's website to try out her husband generator for a laugh.
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#thehusbands #recommendedread #bookstagram #bookreview

I enjoyed the author’s writing style. The story is unique and the intro reeled me in! First chapter was so funny, it felt like an early 2000’s rom-com movie playing in my head. Easy fun read with short chapters. The transition of male characters were done well, it was seamless and easy to understand with using attic stairs going up and down. Loved the mention of Mindhunter in the novel as I’ve watched it with my significant other (wish it didn’t get cancelled)! Rohan, Carter and Bohai were great characters that kept me interested. I felt for Lauren with Carter. I enjoyed getting more perspective of the phenomena by Bohai. I liked the Chapter 44 change in POV.

There are some things that made me “like” rather than “love” the book. I thought there was so many paragraphs of quick husband transitions and mentions why switched out, it got very repetitive and overdone I found myself wanting my eyes to skip lines. I felt like that part could’ve been cut down a bit more and focus on more long term husbands with Lauren to get more character arc, emotions, struggles etc. I’m just a bit confused what the overall message this book is trying to convey to the reader. It would’ve been nice if there was a better explanation on the magical realism (background on it? Why happened to character? Etc) and wished for more conflict/resolution or backstory. The ending was abrupt and not entirely satisfying and I was left wishing to get more pay off out of the story either character wise or plot wise.

Thanks Penguin Random House Canada (Doubleday Canada) for the eARC!

I loved the premise of this book. It took a minute to get into it because it opens right up into Lauren's new life and confuses you as a reader for a second (which is how Lauren feels too). I can't say I was the biggest fan of Lauren and how judgmental she could be. The idea that Lauren's life is so different with each husband, but not only hers also those closest to her change depending on who she is with. The dilemma is when do you say enough is enough and finally decide to settle. Any little thing that Lauren doesn't like - off to the attic for someone new. There were definitely some tense moments especially as we got to the end of the book, where Lauren will do anything to change her life again and she gets herself into some very difficult situations. I really enjoyed when one husband came out and he understood what she was going through and they struck up a friendship as they both continued on their journeys. Bodhi was a great addition and I loved when he finally decided to settle with someone, it started to change Lauren's view on things a little. Honestly, this book was so much fun to read!

I can't believe this was a debut! What a fun and novel concept!

When Lauren arrives home to her London flat one night, she is surprised to find a man claiming to be her husband, despite her not recognizing him. As she investigates further, she discovers evidence suggesting they have been together for years. Meanwhile, her husband mysteriously disappears and is replaced by another husband. This cycle repeats, leading Lauren to realize that her attic is magical and somehow generates different husbands. This prompts her to question the nature of choice and contentment: if life changes as easily as a lightbulb, how does one determine the right path? When does the pursuit of improvement become a barrier to genuine fulfillment?

From the very first page, readers are drawn into Lauren's whirlwind of confusion and intrigue as she navigates a series of husbands mysteriously generated by her attic. The concept was so fresh and engaging, offering a unique spin on the age-old question of identity and choice.

I loved the writing and thought it was filled with humor and wit, making it a joy to follow Lauren on her bizarre journey of self-discovery. Each husband brought their own quirks and surprises, keeping readers eagerly turning the pages to see who will appear next. But, as the story progresses, the novelty begins to wear thin, and by the time we reach the 100th husband, I felt like the plot starts to feel a bit repetitive.

But I still kept going because I was so invested and needed to know how it ends! The author's imaginative premise and lively writing style ensure that even when the story hits a plateau, it never loses its charm. Fans of light-hearted fiction with a touch of whimsy will find plenty to love in this delightful tale of choice, identity, and the unexpected twists of fate.

Thank you to the author, Penguin Random House Canada, Doubleday Canada and NetGalley for this arc in return for an honest review! The Husabnds is out now!

This is hands down one of the best books I have read so far this year. The premise is unique and will make you laugh out loud and maybe cry a bit. Thanks to Penguin and NetGalley for the ARC.

4.5 stars rounded up. This was a fun and unique lighthearted read. I liked that it managed to stay unpredictable for the most part instead of feeling repetitive, even though the whole get a new husband every time the last one goes into the attic had the potential to get old. I liked that it was fast-paced and had short chapters that kept me reading more. While I was reading I wasn't sure how it would end or if it would be satisfying, but I actually really liked the ending and thought it was better than the possibilities I thought might happen.

i thought this was an excellent concept but the execution didn’t nail it for me. i wish there were less husbands and more time spent relationship building with the ones that lasted longer. i didn’t feel connected to any of the relationships and it didn’t get me invested.

4.5 stars, rounded up

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC! I quite enjoyed this one. It’s less romance than you might expect, with a stronger focus on Lauren, the FMC, and what it means to be in love, and the choices that lead to falling in (and out of) love. I know a few folks didn’t like the ending but I actually liked how it wrapped up her determination to actively choose love, to live life and stop making the easy choices.

The author did an excellent job of showing both the benefits and drawbacks of a magic reset button. Also, Bohai was an inspired character choice.

A great fun romp with a few serious moments, a couple cringes, and several out-loud giggles.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for this read. This was hilarious but horrible as well for Lauren. When I started it I felt I wasn’t to sure how this is going to go because I requested this book based on all this buzz and not based on the synopsis. After I got over the hump of figuring out what I was reading, I was invested and wanted to know how Lauren would get out of this mess. It was funny. Well, it sure reminds me of a bible verse as well.

If you liked Holly Smale's " Cassandra in Reverse," then there's a good chance you'll like this book. The main character, Lauren, isn’t stuck in a time loop like Cassandra, but she is stuck in a multi-verse scenario experiencing what her life is like with an infinite supply of different husbands coming out of her attic.

This book was a bit of a slow start for me (I think because it’s told in third person rather than first?) but I really got into the story about 30% of the way through and then I was completely invested in learning how Lauren was going to get out of this ridiculous/hilarious/horrifying situation.

This is Holly Gramazio’s first novel, and I’ll be keeping an eye out for her next one.

Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley for this eARC.

The Husbands by Holly Gramazio is a story that is clever, thought provoking, and unique.

The story begins when main character, Lauren, returns home to her London flat one evening and is greeted by her husband, Michael. The problem is, she doesn’t have a husband. Understandably she freaks out, and after she checks her phone and sees the photo history of her relationship, she is puzzled but accepts it is true. After Michael goes up to the attic to change a light and a different husband descends down the stairs, Lauren realizes she has a magical attic. There is a new history of events with this new husband, and although he seems to know her well, she has to figure him out.
What follows is Lauren’s experiences with her husbands, her magical attic, and her quest to find the perfect match. What is the perfect husband? Is there such a thing? Does she really need or want a husband?

I found the story really had me thinking about life, what we value, what we value in a life partner, and how accepting and forgiving we can be of one’s faults and quirks.

The premise of the story is also good for discussion and some laughs. I will be thinking of this book for a very long time, and can also see myself rereading it in the future.

My only quibble was that I wanted more from the ending. I felt it ended somewhat abruptly and I wanted more depth and resolution.

Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada and Netgalley for the advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

I was really unsure about this one at first, but I kept reading and realized what an amazing book I had stumbled upon. There was one moment, about 30% where I thought... ok I'll keep going, but I don't see how there could be 70% left, this story seems to be wrapping up, boy was I wrong...

So The Husbands by hollygramazio tells the story of Lauren, a woman from London in her early 30s who comes home from a bachelorette party to find she is somehow married to the stranger who appears to be living in her house. Weirder yet, just as she starts to get to know him, Michael goes into the attic and returns as a different husband. Each time a husband goes into the attic, a new one comes out, and Lauren's home decor, job, and relationships all change each time. Over the course of the story Lauren learns a lot about herself and her priorities in life. Filled with hilarious situations, strange and constantly changing characters, and reflections on life and love, this book is definitely one to pick up! It is well written and relatively easy to follow despite the constant changes, and the twists and turns will definitely keep you guessing as there is no way to predict what will happen the next time the ladder to the attic is used. Beware though, you aren't going to want to put it down and you wont be able to stop thinking about it either!

So a surprisingly great fit considering it is outside my usual reading comfort zone. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher doubleday penguin random house Canada for giving me the chance to read and review this very neat book.