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A review by koreanlinda
The Husbands by Holly Gramazio
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I listened to this book over a few long road trips, and it is a perfect book for such setting. The pace is not too fast or not too slow. It keeps going at a steady speed and makes you wonder what will happen next. And voila!, you are at the destination. (In addition, Miranda Raison's lively narration is fabulous.)
The setting is super interesting. A mysterious husband comes out of Lauren the protagonist's attic, and every time he goes up, a new one comes down. Not only her partner changes, but her body and environment change slightly as well, such as hairstyle or job.
The story arc is quite like a NA (new adult), except it does not focus on sexual exploration. Lauren, a single woman at the beginning of the story, goes through a year of experiencing various lifestyles with various partners from the attic. During that process, she undergoes challenges that push her to reflect and grow.
Although the story is entertaining, the protagonist is annoying. She is a self-centered immature woman in 20s. She is short-sighted and falls for the convenience of changing partners and her lives through the magic of attic. She gets obsessed and dependent, which gradually takes her to her irreversible demise. Only after she makes a dramatic change to her approach to life, she gets a chance to redeem herself.
While the writer attempts at making the story more inclusive of LGBTQ+ community by inserting a bisexual supporting character, it falls short in my queer eyes. Because the whole book is filled with Lauren having relationships with numerous men, the pressure of heteronormativity is heavy. However, if the author is heterosexual herself, I think it is appropriate that she writes what she understands the best in terms of romantic and sexual relationships.
I see the author is "a writer, curator, and a game designer." Perhaps the ingenious setting for this story came from her game designing experiences. I enjoyed following Lauren's adventure in this imaginary world. I recommend it for a light reading on vacation or a car ride.
Review by Linda (Any Pronouns) in December 2024
Personal essays on DefinitelyNotOkay.com
Artwork on Instagram @KoreanLinda
The setting is super interesting. A mysterious husband comes out of Lauren the protagonist's attic, and every time he goes up, a new one comes down. Not only her partner changes, but her body and environment change slightly as well, such as hairstyle or job.
The story arc is quite like a NA (new adult), except it does not focus on sexual exploration. Lauren, a single woman at the beginning of the story, goes through a year of experiencing various lifestyles with various partners from the attic. During that process, she undergoes challenges that push her to reflect and grow.
Although the story is entertaining, the protagonist is annoying. She is a self-centered immature woman in 20s. She is short-sighted and falls for the convenience of changing partners and her lives through the magic of attic. She gets obsessed and dependent, which gradually takes her to her irreversible demise.
While the writer attempts at making the story more inclusive of LGBTQ+ community by inserting a bisexual supporting character, it falls short in my queer eyes. Because the whole book is filled with Lauren having relationships with numerous men, the pressure of heteronormativity is heavy. However, if the author is heterosexual herself, I think it is appropriate that she writes what she understands the best in terms of romantic and sexual relationships.
I see the author is "a writer, curator, and a game designer." Perhaps the ingenious setting for this story came from her game designing experiences. I enjoyed following Lauren's adventure in this imaginary world. I recommend it for a light reading on vacation or a car ride.
Review by Linda (Any Pronouns) in December 2024
Personal essays on DefinitelyNotOkay.com
Artwork on Instagram @KoreanLinda