A humorous look at the options we have when it comes to love and life.
Lauren comes home one night to find her husband, Michael, waiting for her. But, Lauren isn't married. However, her friends tell her they've been together for a long time. She doesn't understand it, because she can't remember him at all. Then, he goes up to the attic, and disappears. Another man appears in his place.
Lauren realizes that her attic is magical, that it produces new husbands for her all the time. So, she keeps trying them out. She finally meets someone that is experiencing the same phenomenon. Now, Lauren must decide - does she keep trying or does she enjoy what she has?
A funny and unique take on our life choices. ( )

It's been so long since I picked up a book based on widespread popularity, rather than a recommendation from someone trusted, and truly loved it, that I was prepared to be bored or disappointed by this one, or both. Luckily, neither is the case! I found it entertaining and funny, and just generally engaging.

Sometimes it felt a bit like Gramazio and her friends may have played a game of coming up with traits and pasts (good and bad) for the husbands descending from the attic, but never in a bad way. Often I thought the plot introducing a husband or a scenario just as I started to formulate a "but what about....?" question, satisfying me before I'd even fully articulated it to myself. Other readers may find it tedious or too obvious, especially in the scenes where Lauren tests the magic attic's abilities, but it worked for me. Not too much analysis or heavy thought needed to have fun with the story.

The general themes are about finding happiness, what that means, and the things that tie Lauren (and anyone) to others. It's a portal fantasy to parallel realities, but the main character isn't the one who passes through the portal - and yet, her reality changes around her. How that works and the trickiness of triggering another portal shift were among my favorite parts. Lauren at one point in the book reflects that it's like a time loop, but always moving forward - there is loss and grief even when shifting to a new reality is a relief. ( )

Was a solid four until the ending, which just didn’t work for me, though I’m unsure what would have been better ( )

Title: The Husbands
Author: Holly Gramazio
Publisher: Doubleday Books
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Four
Review:
"The Husbands" by Holly Gramazio

My Thoughts:
'The Husbands' was quite an exciting read. Lauren Strickland comes home from a bachelorette party to find a man named Michael in her apartment who was supposed to be her husband. But she didn't know of him because she had never been married. This is one of those stories that went in many different directions; you must keep up with how this author presents this fun read to the readers. This story was interesting as different guys came out of the magic attic. To understand all of this, you must pick up 'The Hustbands' to see what I am talking about as you see the 'humor and crazy differences between the characters of each world' that are presented.

If you are looking for a read that is not only funny, unique, and somewhat charming but also very thought-provoking, this book will keep you turning the pages to see what will happen next for Lauren as the story jumps between husbands. What will happen when Lauren finally 'figures out a drastic way to settle on just one man?' The story had an exciting ending.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review ( )

Requested from NetGalley 11/28/2023, it sounds like a great read.

FROM NETGALLEY: When Lauren returns home to her flat in London late one night, she is greeted at the door by her husband, Michael. There’s only one problem—she’s not married. She’s never seen this man before in her life. But according to her friends, her much-improved decor, and the photos on her phone, they’ve been together for years.

As Lauren tries to puzzle out how she could be married to someone she can’t remember meeting, Michael goes to the attic to change a lightbulb and abruptly disappears. In his place, a new man emerges, and a new, slightly altered life re-forms around her. Realizing that her attic is creating an infinite supply of husbands, Lauren confronts the question: If swapping lives is as easy as changing a lightbulb, how do you know you’ve taken the right path? When do you stop trying to do better and start actually living?