I loved this book, a very unusual concept but very funny. Lauren comes home from a night out to discover she has a husband- that she has no recollection of (but there are photos etc around her home to show that she is married) the husband goes up to the attic for something and lauren suddenly discovers a new husband in his place. With every new husband things in Lauren's life also change.
A brilliant read.
Thanks Netgalley and the publishers for the eARC.

I enjoyed this book a great deal. It’s fun and quirky.

I loved the character of Lauren and agree of some of her choices with sending her husbands back upstairs to change him.

I was not sure how it was going to end and if who or how she ended but it kept me engrossed

Great characters and friendships

Would highly recommend

A darkly humorous and thought-provoking tale that explores relationships, power dynamics, and societal expectations. Set in a surreal world where women collect husbands, the novel uses absurdity and satire to challenge traditional gender roles and question what it means to maintain control in marriage.

Got to the end and wanted to start again straight away.

I loved the concept of this but I was expecting so much more.
Lauren discovers a magic attics which deliver a new husband every so often. Some good, some bad but they rarely stick around for long!

The story felt disjointed at times and I was left feeling like I wanted to learn more about some of the characters. I really want some more character development for Lauren as I really didn't warm to her at all and found her difficult to relate to.

On the flip side, it was an enjoyable, easy read which you can fly through. A decent summer read!

I absolutely LOVED this!

This book covers a unique story where an attic keeps producing husbands and follows Lauren’s struggles trying to find her “one”. The book really got me thinking about what would I actually do in this situation, and it is a very difficult question. Even after finishing the book I still don’t know.

The characters were really well written and put together, I really like Lauren and some of the husbands.

The concept of the book was really clever and I like how everything panned out in the end. I could read another book from this author and would love a book number 2 even though I am not sure where else you could go with it!

The premise of this book was very intriguing & different however once I started the book it became very quickly repetitive.

Sorry this book was not for me.

Loved loved loved this brilliantly fun novel with a fantastic central character and a very funny voice. Such a clever and original premise. Definitely worth a read and can't wait to read what she writes next.

Hands down one of the best books I have read in a very long time. I found myself literally belly laughing at some points and roped a friend into reading with me. Holly Gramazio has a wicked way with words, puns and plot. I genuinely wish I could reread this for the first time again.

Interesting story and well written. But for some reason it wasn't really for me. However I would definitely recommend it to other people. I know a lot of people enjoyed this.

I loved this so much more than I thought I would. I wasn't sure what to expect, but felt it might be a good holiday read, so I gave it a go. It was fun, thoughtful and just generally genius! Read it!

The book begins with a compelling and original plot, but its execution is lacking. The characters are flat, and the protagonist remains one-dimensional throughout. The "attic husband exchange" lacks depth, with too many characters and insufficient development of key relationships. Emotional moments, like the accidental attic entry, fail to resonate because the story tells rather than shows the intended connections.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

Holly Gramazio's "The Husbands" is a thought-provoking and cleverly crafted novel that delves into the complexities of relationships, societal expectations, and gender roles. The story revolves around a protagonist who navigates through her interactions with the husbands of her friends, uncovering surprising dynamics and challenging traditional notions of marriage and partnership.

Gramazio's writing is sharp and incisive, providing deep insights into the characters' motivations and the intricacies of their interpersonal dynamics. The narrative is both engaging and intellectually stimulating, prompting readers to reflect on their own views and relationships. "The Husbands" is an innovative and compelling read, perfect for those who appreciate novels that explore social themes with nuance and depth.

The Husbands
Holly Gramazio

Quirky, funny and really well written, The Husbands was a joy to read. 🩵
My eyebrows did start to raise a little as the number of husbands rose and rose some more, but I absolutely loved where it ended up and I thought the ending was great. A lovely summer read. 🩷

Many thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.

Still thining about this book days after finishing. Such a great 'what if' concept. Simultaneously funny and thought provoking.

A unique read about an attic that produces husbands: they come in all shapes and forms and Lauren can choose who she settles down with. Initially confused, she looks forward to the next husband descending from the attic and sends him right back if unsuitable. Reflecting modern-day dating, this book is well-written and filled with humour.
Grateful to @netgalley for the ARC of #thehusbands

I loved this book!! Lauren finds that she has a magic attic and husbands keep coming down the ladder. Some she likes and some she really doesn’t. She becomes fascinated by the different lives she lives with each husband, the different choices she has made, from the decor of her flat, her job choice and how many times a week she exercises.
I thought this was a great idea for a book, I didn’t question the magic attic, I just got swept along with it. I loved the dry humour within the book, it made me laugh out loud on several occasions.
Whilst funny, the book also raised some very interesting questions, Lauren begins to consider why she is so quick to send some husbands back up the ladder. Is she looking for the right thing?
I’ve not read anything by this author before but I will definitely look out for her future books.

I read this book three months ago, and I don't know what happened to my review, but the best compliment I can give it, is that 88 books later, I can still remember all the details, and still smile when I think about it.

It is a singular story, which I worried would be a bit silly, but actually it was highly compelling and gave me lots to think about how we approach our relationships, what we are willing to overlook for the sake of maintaining the status quo, and how we decide when the line has been crossed.

Apologies for the late review.

"The Husbands" by Holly Gramazio is a quirky, imaginative novel that promises a lot of charm and delivers on most fronts. The book takes readers on a whimsical journey through the lives of its eccentric characters, each husband more peculiar than the last. Gramazio's writing is witty and often laugh-out-loud funny, making for an entertaining read.

The premise is intriguing, and Gramazio's creativity shines through in the unique plot twists and colourful descriptions. However, while the book is undeniably fun, it occasionally feels like it's trying too hard to be clever. Some parts of the story drag a bit, and the pacing can be uneven, leaving the reader wishing for a bit more cohesion.

The characters, though memorable, sometimes come across as caricatures rather than fully fleshed-out individuals. While this adds to the book's whimsical charm, it can also make it hard to fully invest in their journeys. Despite these shortcomings, the book's humour and originality make it a worthwhile read.

In summary, "The Husbands" is a delightful, offbeat novel that's perfect for readers looking for something different. It may not be a perfect marriage of all its elements, but it's still a charming, witty escape. If you enjoy quirky stories with a touch of absurdity, this one is worth a read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Many thanks to Netgalley, Random House UK, Vintage and the author for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

When I read the blurb of this book, It gave me midnight library vibes. But reading it this was much more on the humerus side that book.

What will you do if you come home from your best friend's bachelorette party to find that you suddenly have a husband and you have been married for quite a while. You would think I am too drunk; I'll sleep and wake up and realise this was all just a nightmare, only the next day morning your 'husband' is making you breakfast and even though you can swear on everything holy and unholy that you were single when you went out to have fun, your reality doesn't match it anymore. This is Lauren's life now. Not only that apparently her attic has a continuous exchange and recycle policy for these husbands.

Initially shocked (like obviously!!) Lauren decides to try a few husbands until she find one that would be a suitable date for the wedding where her ex will be preset with his now girlfriend. But how long does she keep doing this before she find the one? When she does, will he disappear, and it will all go back to her simple normal? Why her? Will her Attic run out of husbands? Is there a right answer?

This book was fun, entertaining and hilarious with some nuanced thought provoking points. We live in a world where dating is just swiping on the screen and even when people meet there is always backups to swipe through. There needs to be a lot of emotional work done, in order to meet 'the one' if that even really exists. Which one of us haven't ever wondered why can't there be a ready-made person for me? Lol!! Also, this seems like a way to make fun of us introverts who expects our one true love to appear at our front door or in this case the attic.

With loads of Euphemisms about modern day dating and the kind of people we meet along with nuanced representation of want and need and companionship, this was a fun journey. But here are my issues with it, Lauren doesn't even have that much of a character growth even though the story takes place across a couple of years. There was so much build up which led nowhere. We get an ending and a conclusion, but we never got the why's!! Why Lauren? Why her apartment? Why that particular night? Like something? I don't want a full lore, but I would have appreciated something considering the last one third of the book just dragged and the ending just came out of nowhere!

TW: Domestic violence reference, cheating, betrayal, swingers

This was a fun, easy going story. The main character was lovable and so were some of the husbands. The ending was great for this kind of novel. I would highly recommend.
4.25*