mermaidsherbet's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Infidelity and Emotional abuse
Minor: Stalking, Medical trauma, Sexual content, Mental illness, Infertility, Alcohol, Medical content, Child abuse, Toxic friendship, Pregnancy, and Panic attacks/disorders
autiedragon's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Sexism
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Pregnancy, Sexism, and Fatphobia
abbie_'s review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
4.0
Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for my free digital ARC in exchange for a review!
Alternate title idea: gaslight, gaslight, gaslight. Unhinged and I loved it.
My Husband by Maud Ventura was twisted, tense, messed up and I had a grand old time reading it!
Alternate title idea: gaslight, gaslight, gaslight. Unhinged and I loved it.
My Husband by Maud Ventura was twisted, tense, messed up and I had a grand old time reading it!
Right from the get go, you notice something is a little off with the narrator - she creates new personas to get her hair done, the smallest faux pas will send her into a dizzying spiral of intense inner monologue, she spends her days meticulously creating a perfect scene for her husband to come home to each night. This unnamed woman is completely, head-over-heels obsessed with her husband, but her problem is that her cup is already full. They’re married, have two children, the perfect house, but she doesn’t want the comforting quotidian - she wants pure, unadulterated passion, and she had some unusual ways of clawing back some of it from their marriage 👀
I love books that explore love and passion and relationships, because everyone is so different. In one of the most recent books I read, the MC said he loved his boyfriend a little more than yesterday and a little less than tomorrow (adorable), but when the husband of THIS MC expresses a similar sentiment, she’s devastated. Why is he not giving her the fullest version of his love right now? The translation here by Emma Ramadan is absolutely flawless, so smooth that you’re sucked right into her head - her fixations become your fixations, it’s overwhelming at times but I was here for it.
At one point the narrator is thrown for a loop because she sees her husband with his work colleagues and he seems different. It made me think about the various roles we all play according to who we’re with. What happens to those facets of your identity when they’re put together? Which one is the ‘real’ you? Are they both? Neither? I can’t say too much about the ending but I was torn about it. I liked the idea I’d built up in my head - but at the same time, I do think it’s an accurate representation of gender roles.
Overall this book is an extremely snappy exploration of obsession, marriage, and the roles we all play - if you’re looking for a quick, intense read this summer, I’d more than recommend it! Out 27th July in the UK 🦀
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Infidelity, and Emotional abuse
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