No real plot, slow pacing, flat main character in Lauren. Easy pass.

Thank you to the publisher, via NetGalley, for providing me with an arc for review.

Publication Date: April 2nd, 2024
I was delighted to receive this e-ARC by @doubledayca

The Husbands by @holly_gramazio depicts the issue of navigating life and love when faced with a world of unlimited choices.

Synopsis: One night, Lauren returns home after a late night out and is welcomed by her husband, Michael. But there’s one problem - Lauren is not married and has never seen this man before but, according to her phone’s photo gallery and text conversations between her family and friends, they’ve been together for years.

This novel was indeed interesting with a bit of funny moments as well. However, I thought that most of the story was just focused on one problem that lacked proper development. The book started off so strong and intriguing but then hit a wall where it starts to become redundant.

However, the issue that the novel navigates around does make you wonder how you would personally navigate through life if you were given endless choices - keeping in mine that each choice also affects other parts of your life such as family, friends and career.

If you’re looking for a quick and light read, this novel is a good choice. The best part of the book was reading something I have never come across before, it was certainly a unique piece.

One day you're single, the next you begin the carousel of husbands that magically appear from the attic. Don't like one? Send him back and another will instantly appear. This is essentially what THE HUSBANDS is about: how do you handle the never ending choice when it comes to love and life.

For the first half of the book, I was quickly turning pages and smiling at the main character's ramblings: her Google searches, thoughts, etc. When I put it down, I was looking forward to picking it up again. Plausible? No, obviously, but I loved the concept.

But as I moved onto the second half, I wanted more from the husbands — instead of the ever-constant revolving door of hubbies (there ends being over 200!) I wanted more of them to stay, more substance to the story.

Overall, though, it was a welcome change to the heavy books I'd been reading lately. Definitely check it out if you like magical realism. I'd love to hear your thoughts if/when you've read it.

I liked it. ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 for me.

This one comes out on Tuesday, April 2, 2024!

Thanks to @penrandomehouseca for the #gifted advance copy to read and review.

I had first heard about this book on Booktok and I rushed right over here to request it. So thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Random House and Holly Gramazio for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love the premise of this book, I hadn’t heard of this before. I love books with time loops/time travel/alternate worlds. So I knew I would love a book about a girl who is trying to find the right husband in her attic. This book had me hooked. I felt though the last 25% both the author and the character were just over the whole situation. But that didn’t stop me from reading the whole thing.

Thank you for such an original premise.

I enjoyed this debut novel -- and was super interested in it from reading the premise --and was happy to get a copy to read. Lauren returns home after a night out -- and discovers her husband waiting for her at home -the only problem is --she`s not married !
The characters , premise and flow of the writing kept me engaged for most of the story -- the concept of the husbands changing and coming from the attic was creative and innovative and I can see the authors background in gaming design coming in to play here. I loved the alternate realities and I enjoyed many of the husbands -- Micheal, Jason, Carter and a few others -- when changing husbands and during husband focused chapters -- there is good humour -- I would have liked a little less changing of husbands as it felt tedious and more chances for her to rotate back to some of the husbands from before -- to try things differently a second time -- and gives us a chance to root for specific husbands more. But that said I enjoyed the humour and the lessons it was teaching. The ending was much like a video game -- and I want to know what will happen to Lauren next how will her life work out . 3.5 rounded up to 4 -- I was motivated to keep going as I wanted the outcome and which husband she would stay with and or how she would stop the cycle, the characters we overall likeable and the situations and idea were written well, creative and unique for a novel. Looking forward to more from this author in the future- this story has really stuck with me.

Thanks to Netgalley - Penguin Random House Canada/Doubleday Canada for this ARC. This is my honest review.

I adored this novel. It didn't end how I thought it might but I still enjoyed every minute. Such a cute read.

I was so excited to gain access to this e-arc for Gramzio's debut novel and I think this one is gonna be one of the big releases of the year. This book was such a fresh and unique breath of fresh air and was written so well. The whole premise of this book was so fun and the writing really puts you into this strange universe of endless husbands, it also had such great candor about the search for perfection and what that looks like. I found myself consdtantly in a "What Would You Do" scenario (cue John Quiñones) with this one and it really left me thinking for a few days following. I think this book is gonna be a great addition to anyone bookshelf!

I love a story with a bit of quirk in it, and this one has it in spades. Lauren returns home one day and is greeted by her husband. The only problem, she’s never been married. And soon she discovers that every time her hubby heads to the attic, a new one takes his place. Is this karma after several disastrous love affairs? Are the fates offering a parade of the better options from which she can pick Mr. Right? A delightful romp of a book with a hilarious narrator who tries in vain to remember each “life” she has created with each man. The author gifts the reader with a bit of whimsy, something we could all use.

The great premise drew me to the book. Every time Lauren's husband goes into the attic, a new husband comes down. And while I didn't like everything that happened in the novel, I am very into the ending and the conclusion the main characters comes to. Love is a choice and the perfect "one" is a myth.

This was such a fun read! I'm a sucker for stories featuring alternate realities/parallel timelines, which means I've read quite a few of them. The Husbands has a unique, intriguing premise, and Holly Gramazio carries it off flawlessly. The book kept me engaged throughout and ended in a very satisfying way. I'll definitely be recommending it widely. I already can't wait for Gramazio's next novel!

Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for the opportunity to read a digital version of the ARC in advance of publication.